American Legion Post 90, Cape Coral, invites high school students to compete in the 83rd Annual American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program. Post Chairman Ted Clark has extended the invitation to local students to enter the competition. Contact him at 239-540-8128, 845-527-7948 or alpost90@yahoo.com.

The contest has been arranged with the cooperation of local school officials, guidance counselors and high school faculty who will assist with the contest arrangements.

The program is a multi-level contest in which students first compete at the post level and then progress to the district, area and state levels. The winner of the state contest advances to the national contest held in Indianapolis, in March. In 2024, a Post 90 candidate reached the state level.

The contest is open to any student in grades 9 through 12, including homeschooled students.

To compete, the student must prepare and deliver an original 8 to 10-minute speech about some aspect of the Constitution, emphasizing a citizen’s duty to their country and government. Also, the student will be assigned a topic at random on the Constitution and must speak extemporaneously to test the speaker’s knowledge of one of four Constitutional subjects.

At the local post level, the commander will award the first-place winner a $600 scholarship. The winner then moves on to the Legion district and area levels. These winners move on to the national finals, which awards $25,000, $22,500 and $20,000 to the first through third places.

Also, every state winner who competes in the national contest’s first round will receive a $2,000 scholarship. Participants in the second round who do not advance to the national final round will receive an additional $2,000 scholarship. The top three winners will vie for top honors in the national competition in March in Indianapolis.

The American Legion will pay the expenses of state winners at the national contest.

High school students who are interested in entering the competition will find complete rules and contest information at FloridaLegion.org.

For additional information, contact Ted Clark, Chair, at 845 527-7948 or tedclark12@gmail.com.