The American Legion, The Department of Iowa, Post 298  

High School Oratorical Contest

The American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest was developed to instill a better knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States in high school students. William Kitchen is credited with it's origination. During the 1934-35 school year he introduced the contest to high schools in the Kansas City, Missouri area. In 1935-36 he was the Department Oratorical Chairman and conducted a state wide program. From the start, Mr. Kitchen felt the contest should become a National program. The first National Contest was held in 1938.

Additional objectives of the contest include the development of leadership skill, the ability to put your thoughts into words and express them clearly. In the process of studying the constitution the student also learns and prepares themselves for assuming the responsibilities of a United States citizen.

Since it began, over $3 million in scholarships have been awarded to participants. Currently $138,000 is annually distributed to State winners advancing to and competing in the National Finals. Local posts, Districts, and Departments may also award scholarships and monetary awards. Scholarships of $18,000, $16,000 and 14,000 are awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners at the National Finals.

The subject to be used for the Prepared Oration must be on some phase of the Constitution of the United States, emphasizing the duties and obligations of a citizen to our government. The Prepared Oration must be the students original effort. It must be 8 to 10 minutes in length and be delivered in the English language. At the Local and County Level of competition students may use 3x5 note cards. By District competition the speech must be memorized.

Introduced at the District level is an Assigned Topic. Each year four areas of the constitution are chosen that the student should familiarize themselves with. Beginning at the District level one of these questions will randomly be drawn and each contestant will give a 3 to 5 minute discourse on that aspect of the Constitution. The purpose of the Assigned Topic preparation is to test the speaker's expanding knowledge of the subject, the extent of his or her research, and the ability to discuss the topic as related to the basic principles of government under the Constitution. The rules sited on this website are taken from the 2005-2006 National High School Oratorical Contest Chairman's Guide.

The Local Contest is generally held the first Sunday in December at Marion Post #298. 

County competition is also held in December. 

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