THE AMERICAN LEGION DEPARTMENT OF HAWAII
612 MCCULLY STREET HONOLULU, HAWAII 96826
(808) 946-6383, oratorical@hilegion.org)
The American Legion, Department of Hawaii Notice: September 15th, 2023
We invite your students to participate in the 86th American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program, which is “A Constitutional Speech Contest,” March 16, 2024 at the Oahu Veterans Center, 1298 Kukila Street, Honolulu HI 96818. The purpose of the contest is to instill a better knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States in high school students. It also develops leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly and the preparation for acceptance of the duties, responsibilities, and privileges of American citizenship. Our 2022 & 2023 winners hailed from Radford High School [Honolulu, (Oahu)] and Konawaena High School [Kealakekua (Hawaii)]!
Young orators earn some of the most generous college scholarships available to high school students. Over $188,000 in scholarships can be awarded each year. The overall National Contest Winner gets a $25,000 scholarship, second place takes home $22,500, and third gets $20,000. Each State’s certified winner that participates in the National contest’s first round will receive an additional $2,000 scholarship. Those contestants who advance to the second round receive an additional $2,000 scholarship. The American Legion’s National Organization awards the scholarships, which may be used in any college or university in the United States.
To qualify for the National Contest, the contestant must first participate in the State of Hawaii contest which will be held on March 16, 2024, 0800, at Oahu Veterans Center, 1298 Kukila St. Honolulu HI. The contestants will receive check awards; 1st place $1,000.00, 2nd place $500.00 and 3rd place $300.00. The winner and their chaperone will receive airfare and hotel accommodations to represent Hawaii in the National Finals, which will be May 17-19 in Hillsdale, Mich., at Hillsdale College. Quarterfinal and semifinal contests are scheduled for Saturday, May 18 with the finals scheduled for Sunday, May 19. All contestants and chaperones will arrive the Friday of the contest weekend. All contestants and chaperones will stay on campus at Hillsdale College. A mandatory pre-contest orientation session for all contestants will take place the Friday evening of the contest weekend. A banquet honoring all contestants will be Sunday afternoon, following the national championship contest. A chaperone over 21 years of age must accompany each contestant to the National Contest.
The following website will help participants obtain videos, requirements & rules on the National Contest: https://www.legion.org/oratorical.
Each participant should complete the application and return by 16Feb2024.
Mahalo for encouraging your student’s participation!
Completed applications should be scanned & emailed to oratorical@hilegion.org or snail mail by February 16, 2024 to:
The American Legion Department of Hawaii
Attn: Oratorical Contest Committee
612 McCully Street
Honolulu, HI 96826
Sincerely,
CR Drumheller
Department of Hawaii Oratorical Chairman
(808-927-9663)
oratorical@hilegion.org
HIGH SCHOOL ORATORICAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
CONSTITUTIONAL SPEECH CONTEST APPLICATION DATA
Please TYPE all required information (handwritten forms are difficult to read)
Student Information:
I shall participate in The American Legion 2024 High School Oratorical Program.
Application Date:
Full Name:
Date of Birth:
Age:
Grade:
Name of High School:
Mother's Name:
Home Phone: Cell Phone:
Father's Name:
Home Phone: Cell Phone:
List school or class offices you hold or held (attach additional pages if necessary):
Extracurricular actives in which you participated (attach additional pages if necessary):
College or University you plan to attend:
Career you desire:
Chaperone for Student Selected to Attend the National Oratorical Contest?
A chaperone over 21 years of age must accompany each contestant to the National Contest.
Name:
Relationship to Student:
E-Mail:
Home Phone: Cell Phone:
Name of Teacher or Speech Coach:
Name:
School:
School Address:
E-Mail:
Home /office Phone: Cell Phone:
CONTESTANT CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify the above-named student is enrolled at:
School:
Current Grade:
Principal’s Printed Name & Signature:
(please copy principal when submitting as certification)
Principal’s Email Address:
This application must be completed and returned by 16Feb2024
Additional information will be required from the winner and chaperone and we’ll get to those immediately following the contest.
NOTE: THIS FORM MAY BE SHARED
Oratorical Contest Assigned Topics
The assigned topic discourse must not consume less than three (3) minutes or more than five (5) minutes for delivery. The purpose of the assigned topic discourse is to test the speaker's knowledge of the subject, the extent of his or her research, and the ability to discuss the topic as related to the basic principles of government under the Constitution.
The assigned topic shall be drawn by the contest official in full view of the audience immediately before the last speaker begins delivery of his or her prepared oration and will be made known to the audience and each contestant approximately five (5) minutes prior to the time of delivery. The topic will be on some phase of the U.S. Constitution, selected from Articles and Sections as listed under assigned topics for the current year's contest in this brochure.
All contestants at each contest level are required to speak in the English language on the same assigned topic.
Assigned Topics for 2024 Oratorical Contest
Amendment II – A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment XXIII – The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct: A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the State, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.
Amendment XXV, Section 3 – Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.
Amendment V – No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, not be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.