By PAUL CHASON
Special to Atmore News
The Billy Glenn Rushing Post 90 of Atmore announces an opportunity for local high school students to participate in a National American Legion Program. The “Oratorical” contest is a series of public speaking opportunities that could result is a scholarship up to $18,000 for first place winners at the national level.
Guidance counselors at Escambia County High School, Escambia Academy and Flomaton High School have applications at their respective offices.
Applications for this program are due at American Legion Post 90 not later than 11 a.m., on December 2, 2019.
COMPLETE application packages may be hand delivered to the post; scanned in PDF format and emailed to the post at atmorealpost90@gmail.com, Subject: POST 90 ORATORICAL APPLICATION; or mailed to: Billy Glenn Rushing Post 90, 101 West Church Street, P.O. Box 407, Atmore, Al. 36504. Must be AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 2.
‘A Constitutional Speech Contest’
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. The program has featured numerous politicians and prominent contestants over the years, including former president candidate Alan Keyes and CNN anchor Lou Dobbs.
Young orators earn some of the most generous college scholarships available to high school students. Over $138,000 in scholarships can be awarded each year. The overall national contest winner gets an $18,000 scholarship. Second place takes home $16,000, and third gets $14,000. Each department (state) winner who is certified into and participates in the national contest’s first round receives a $1,500 scholarship. Those who advance past the first round receive an additional $1,500 scholarship. The American Legion’s National Organization awards the scholarships, which can be used at any college or university in the United States. See the following link for more details:
https://www.legion.org/oratorical/about.
Eligibility
Eligible participants must be citizens of or lawful permanent residents of the United States. All contestants must be bona fide students herein described as any student under the age of 20 years on the date of the national contest who is presently enrolled in a high school or junior high school (public, parochial, military, private or home school). The curriculum of the school must be considered to be of high school level, commencing with grade nine and terminating with grade 12. Students must be enrolled in high school or junior high school during the time of participation at any level of The American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest. Contestants must either be legally domiciled within or attend an educational institution within the department that they enter competition. Contestants can enter competition through only one department. High school students who graduate early during the school year are eligible to compete if they are not enrolled in a college, university, trade school or other institution of higher learning at the time of the department finals contest. See the following link for more details:
https://www.legion.org/oratorical/rules.
Department of Alabama guidelines
Please see the provided link to learn more about specifics to the Alabama program guidelines: https://www.legional.org/oratorical-competition.html.
Paul Chason is Adjutant, Billy Glenn Rushing Post 90.