High School Oratorical Contest      

 

Karlene DeVine, Oratorical Chairman - Letter to Guidance Counselors

Oratorical Program Application

We ask your help in getting this information to your student body.

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

 

 

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.

(L to R) Erin Connor, winner State Oratorical Contest,

Department Commander Ed Brown, Miles Main, second place.

 

MONTPELIER, Feb. 28  - Erin Connor, a sophomore from Bridport, will represent Vermont at the National Contest of the High School Oratorical Scholarship Program, the premier scholarship program of The American Legion.  Connor took first place in the State Contest sponsored by the Legion’s Department of Vermont and held Saturday at Norwich University.  Earlier she won the District 1 contest held at Vergennes.  Her parents are Paul and Marian Connor in Bridport.

 

Connor will compete with other State winners at the National Contest in Indianapolis, Indiana in April.  National Scholarships awarded annually total $138,000.  The 1st place finalist receives a scholarship award of $18,000 plus $1,500 in the first round of the national contest.

 

Miles Main, a senior at Mt. Anthony Union High School in Bennington,took second place in the State contest.  Earlier he won the District 4 contest in Rutland. His parents are James and Eileen Main in Bennington.

 

The High School Oratorical contest is one of several scholarship programs supported by The American Legion Department of Vermont to help our young people get the higher Education they need to participate in tomorrow's society.

 

Students, parents and teachers interested in scholarship opportunities available through The American Legion should visit the Department websitewww.vtlegion.org or

contact Department Headquarters at (802) 223-7131 or alvthq@myfairpoint.net.

 

Media contact:  

Karlene DeVine

802-877-6392

Chair, Oratorical Committee, 

The American Legion Department of Vermont