The American Legion Department of Vermont
126 State Street  P.O. Box 396
Montpelier, Vermont 05601-0396
TEL:  (802) 223-7131 or (800) 501-7131  FAX:  (802) 223-0318
Email: alvthq@myfairpoint.net
 

 
UPCOMING - 
 
  • Karlene DeVine, Chair, Oratorical Committee, and Emilee Trudo, winner of Vermont’s State Contest of the High School Oratorical Scholarship Program, are scheduled for interview on Monday, April 23, for a segment on the :30 Show on WCAX-TV. The interview will be live and on the air between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
 
 

 
FEBRUARY ORATORICAL NEWS
By Karlene Davis
 
Emilee Trudo was the winner of District 1 High School American Legion Constitutional Speech Contest held at the Colchester American Legion Post 91 on Sat. Feb. 4. She competed against a student from Middlebury Union High School and Rice Memorial High School.  Emilee, is a sophomore at Vergennes Union High School.
District 3 will be represented by the winner from their Sat. Feb. 18 Contest.  At this time there are two students competing. Each contestant deliveres a prepared 8-10 minute oration as well as an oration on a randomly assigned constitutional topic for 3-5 minutes. The winners from the District Contests go on to the Vermont Department Contest at Spaulding High School on Feb. 25. The Contest will begin at 10 AM. Any volunteer personnel are asked to be there at 9 AM. Viewing the Contest is open to the public and admission is free. The first place orator will receive $1,500.00 and the privilege to participate in the National Finals in Indianapolis, IN 13-15 April 2012 at the Conference Center of Indiana University-Purdue University.
 
.....Read more in our monthly bulletin
Contact:
Karlene DeVine
American Legion Department Chairpersonkdevine@gmavt.net
(802) 877-6392

The American Legion Oratorical Program

This marks our 75th year of awarding scholarships in the National High School Oratorical Program. This program was initiated in 1938 to develop a deeper knowledge and understanding among high school students of the Constitution of the United States of America. The participants also obtain the ability to think, speak intelligently and prepare, through understanding, for the responsibilities, rights and privileges of American Citizenship.

National Scholarships awarded annually are in the amount of $138,000. The responsibility for the National Contest site and establishing dates lies within the National Americanism Commission of The American Legion.

Another purpose of the program is to assist students in paying the high cost of a college education. On the National level, The American Legion Life Insurance Fund provides the scholarship money for the program. The first place winner in the National Contest takes home $18,000 and the next two finishers receive $16,000 and $14,000 respectively. Each Department (State) winner who is certified into and participates in the first round of the National Contest will receive a $1,500 scholarship. Each first round winner who advances to and participates in the second round, but does not advance to the Final Round, will receive an additional $1,500 scholarship to pursue education beyond high school.

The American Legion takes great pride in the contest and a strong interest in the contestants and their families. For this reason, participants have cited the experience of meeting people involved in this program as a special benefit of the competition. Entrants reaching advanced levels of the contest have the added chance to meet students and Legionnaires from throughout the Nation.

In order to reach the National Contest, contestants must participate at the High School, District and State Level. The winner of the High School Contest will proceed to the District Contest and the winner of the District Contest will proceed to the State Championship. The State winner receives $2,000 from The American Legion Department of Vermont and the privilege of competing at the National Contest. The runners up in the State Contest will each receive $100 from The American Legion Department of Vermont. All contestants may apply for additional scholarship funds from The American Legion Department of Vermont.
 
February 28, 2011

Middlebury Union High School Student selected for National Scholarship contest. Read more...

 
 

We ask your help in getting this information to your student body. are eligible to participate in the program.

All students in grades 9 through 12,
who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States, are eligible to participate in the program