Oratorical Competition

The American Legion Oratorical Contest exists to develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution among high school students. Since 1938, the program has presented participants with an academic speaking challenge that teaches important leadership qualities, the history of our nation’s laws, the ability to think and speak clearly, and an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship.

Speaking subjects must be on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with some emphasis on the duties and obligations of citizens to our government. Speeches are eight to 10 minutes long; three- to five-minute speeches on an assigned topic also are part of the contest.

2025 - American Legion Dept. of Arizona Oratorical High School Contest 3rd Place winner, Mitchell Gordon, sponsored by Post 135. Gordon (center) poses with (l) Manny Beltran, American Legion State Cmdr., and Jesse Fernandez, Vice Commander Area B, following his award-winning 8-minute speech.

High school students under age 20 are eligible. Competition begins at the post level and advances to a state competition. Legion department representatives certify one winner per state to the national contest, where department winners compete against each other in two speaking rounds. The contest caps off with a final round that decides the three top finishers.

Oratorical – Post 135 is totally involved in youth programs

as demonstrated in their support of hosting and providing

volunteers to work at the annual American Legion High

School Speech Scholarship Contests. The first contest is

Held at the local post, the second is held at District 8

level followed by the Area C contest and then in Arizona,

the grand finale is the Dept. of Arizona contest, followed

by the national contest held in Michigan.

The contests earn the speaker funds for college, as well as

helping them to develop speaking skills that will add then in their adult life.

2026 – The speakers for the Area C American Legion Oratorical Speech Contest came from high and low in the state – that is, Prescott to the Grand Canyon! Pictured (l-r) Benna Sanders, 1st Place winner, Amelia Walls, 3rd Place, Trevor Zito, 2nd Place, while Jacob Chisholm placed 4th. Sanders, Zito and Chisholm were from Prescott area schools, while Walls traveled from the Grand Canyon. Sanders and Zito competed at the department lever. Sanders took 4th Place, while Zito finished at 6th Place.