High School Oratorical Scholarship Program
"A Constitutional Speech Contest"

The purpose of The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program "A Constitutional Speech Contest" is to develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States on the part of high school students. Other objectives of the contest include the development of leadership skills, the ability to think and speak clearly and intelligently, and the preparation for acceptance of the duties and responsibilities, the rights, and privileges of American citizenship.

The winner at the department (state) level who is ceritified 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 ay any college or university in the United States.

National scholarship awards are presented to the three finalists in the final round of the national contest as follows: 1st place - $18,000; 2nd place - $16,000; 3rd place - $14,000.

A contestant must give both their prepared oration and the assigned topic discourse in order to receive the scholarship.

American Legion Post 205 solicits contestants from Bluffton High School, May River High School, John Paul II Catholic School, and Hilton Head Christian Academy (moving to Bluffton in 2018). The schedule and venue for this event is determined by the committee. Following are the committee members for the 2019 contest.