The Billy Glenn Rushing Post 90 of Atmore announces an opportunity for local high school students to participate in a National American Legion Program that could result in a scholarship of up to $18,000 for first place winner at the National level of the ‘Oratorical’ contest, a series of public speaking opportunities.
Applications are located for pick up in the Guidance Counselors at Escambia County High School, Escambia Academy and Flomaton High School for this program and are due at American Legion Post 90 no later than 11 a.m., Monday, December 2nd, 2019.
Complete application packages may be hand delivered to the post, scanned in PDF format and emailed to [email protected], 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 Dec. 2, 2019.
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. 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 9 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 that 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 website for more details: https://www.legion.org/oratorical/rules
Please follow the website https://www.legional.org/oratorical-competition.htmlto learn more about specifics to the Alabama program guidelines.
