Montgomery County high school students have been invited by Byron Cox Post 72 of the American Legion to compete in the 2023 annual American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship competition. The invitation to enter this year’s events was extended today by Post Commander Bonita Clement.
The contest for county students has been arranged with the full cooperation of local school officials and faculty who will assist with the contest arrangements.
The subject in the prepared oration portion of the contest must be about some phase of the Constitution of the United States government. The prepared oration must be the original effort of each contestant and must be 8-10 minutes in length.
The awards offered in the local competition, will be $100 for first place and $50 for second place with advancement to the district level competition.
In addition to awards by winners of the various elimination rounds of competition, college scholarships of $18,000, $16,000 and $14,000 will be awarded to the first through third places in the national finals. Each state winner who competes in the first round of the national contest will receive a $1,500 scholarship. Participants in the second round who do not advance to the national final round will receive an additional $1,500 scholarship. The top three youth orators who have won all previous elimination rounds of the contest will vie for top honors in the national contest in April 2023 at the IUPUI Conference Center and Hotel, Indianapolis.
The American Legion will pay the expenses of state winners at the national contest.
Montgomery County high school students interested in entering the competition will find complete rules and contest information at Oratorical Contest I The American Legion (www.legion.org/oratorical); American Legion Post 72, 101 Walter Remley Drive, Crawfordsville, IN 47933; phone 765-362-9921; with your high school guidance office; or oratorical chairman Tim McMahan at 1961tmcmahan@gmail.com.
