ORATORICAL

Oratorical Contest

The purpose of The American Legion’s National High School Oratorical 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 qualities, 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 AMERICAN LEGION HIGH SCHOOL ORATORICAL CONTEST

RULES

CONTACTS

Indianapolis High School Senior Wins American Legion Oratorical

and Earns $25K Scholarship

23 April 2023

Haley Bock, a home-schooled senior from Indianapolis who was sponsored by Broad Ripple Post #3, capped a busy weekend of competition in her home city by earning a $25,000 college scholarship and first place in The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program – “A Constitutional Speech Contest.” Haley Bock’s winning prepared oration was titled “The Black Hole of American Democracy: American Territories are Where Voting Rights Vanish.”

Bock started the weekend as one of 49 state or department champions in the 84th annual contest. She advanced to the championship through three rounds of intense competition. She was sponsored by American Legion Post 3 in Indianapolis.

Ian Chung, a senior from Vestal, N.Y., earned a $22,500 college scholarship with a second-place finish, while Emma Johnson, an 11th grade student from Powell, Wyo., earned $20,000 and third place in the competition. The scholarships account for a small portion of post-secondary scholarships that The American Legion, the nation’s largest veterans organization, awards annually.

In her prepared oration, Bock opened her remarks about Luis Segovia, a U.S. citizen and Guam resident who served tour tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Illinois National Guard. “Luis Segovia was willing to give his life for his country,” she said. “He protected Iraqi citizens’ right to vote. But back home in America, Luis, along with four million residents of the American territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands were denied their right to vote.”

“They’re calling out but they’ve yet to be heard,” she concluded. “So, who will give them their voice? When will we all speak out, rise together, and grant those the rights they too have fought for and deserve?”

In each round of the weekend competition, orators delivered a rehearsed 8- to 10- minute address and a randomly assigned 3- to 5-minute oration on a constitutional topic, each without the benefit of notes and in front of a live audience, including the judges. The nearly 1.7-million-member American Legion developed the contest to encourage young people to improve their communications skills and to study the U.S. Constitution. More than $3 million in scholarships have been awarded over the history of the contest.

National Champion: Haley Bock, Post 3, District 11

Indianapolis High School Senior Wins Am

erican Legion

Oratorical and Earns $25K Scholarship

23 April 2023

Haley Bo

ck

, a

home

-

schooled senior from Indianapolis

who was

sponsored by Broad

Ripple Post #3

,

capped a busy weekend of competition in her home city by earning a

$25,000 college scholarship and first place in The American Legion High School

Oratorical Schola

rship Program

–

“A Constitutional Speech Contest.” Haley Bock’s

winning prepared oration was titled “The Black Hole of American Democracy: American

Territories are Where Voting Rights Vanish.”

Bock started the weekend as one of 49 state or department cha

mpions in the 84th

annual contest. She advanced to the championship through three rounds of intense

competition. She was sponsored by American Legion Post 3 in Indianapolis.

Ian Chung, a senior from Vestal, N.Y., earned a $22,500 college scholarship with

a

second

-

place finish, while Emma Johnson, an 11th grade student from Powell, Wyo.,

earned $20,000 and third place in the competition. The scholarships account for a small

portion of post

-

secondary scholarships that The American Legion, the nation’s large

st

veterans organization, awards annually.

In her prepared oration, Bock opened her remarks about Luis Segovia, a U.S. citizen

and Guam resident who served tour tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Illinois

National Guard.

“Luis Segovia was willing t

o give his life for his country,” she said. “He protected Iraqi

citizens’ right to vote. But back home in America, Luis, along with four million residents

of the American territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the

Northern Mariana I

slands were denied their right to vote.”

“They’re calling out but they’ve yet to be heard,” she concluded. “So, who will give them

their voice? When will we all speak out, rise together, and grant those the rights they too

have fought for and deserve?”

In each round of the weekend competition, orators delivered a rehearsed 8

-

to 10

-

minute address and a randomly assigned 3

-

to 5

-

minute oration on a constitutional

topic, each without the benefit of notes and in front of a live audience, including the

judg

es. The nearly 1.7

-

million

-

member American Legion developed the contest to

encourage young people to improve their communications skills and to study the U.S.

Constitution. More than $3 million in scholarships have been awarded over the history

of the cont

est.

​

National

Champion:

Haley Bock, Post 3, District 11

Indianapolis High School Senior Wins Am

erican Legion

Oratorical and Earns $25K Scholarship

23 April 2023

Haley Bo

ck

, a

home

-

schooled senior from Indianapolis

who was

sponsored by Broad

Ripple Post #3

,

capped a busy weekend of competition in her home city by earning a

$25,000 college scholarship and first place in The American Legion High School

Oratorical Schola

rship Program

–

“A Constitutional Speech Contest.” Haley Bock’s

winning prepared oration was titled “The Black Hole of American Democracy: American

Territories are Where Voting Rights Vanish.”

Bock started the weekend as one of 49 state or department cha

mpions in the 84th

annual contest. She advanced to the championship through three rounds of intense

competition. She was sponsored by American Legion Post 3 in Indianapolis.

Ian Chung, a senior from Vestal, N.Y., earned a $22,500 college scholarship with

a

second

-

place finish, while Emma Johnson, an 11th grade student from Powell, Wyo.,

earned $20,000 and third place in the competition. The scholarships account for a small

portion of post

-

secondary scholarships that The American Legion, the nation’s large

st

veterans organization, awards annually.

In her prepared oration, Bock opened her remarks about Luis Segovia, a U.S. citizen

and Guam resident who served tour tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Illinois

National Guard.

“Luis Segovia was willing t

o give his life for his country,” she said. “He protected Iraqi

citizens’ right to vote. But back home in America, Luis, along with four million residents

of the American territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the

Northern Mariana I

slands were denied their right to vote.”

“They’re calling out but they’ve yet to be heard,” she concluded. “So, who will give them

their voice? When will we all speak out, rise together, and grant those the rights they too

have fought for and deserve?”

In each round of the weekend competition, orators delivered a rehearsed 8

-

to 10

-

minute address and a randomly assigned 3

-

to 5

-

minute oration on a constitutional

topic, each without the benefit of notes and in front of a live audience, including the

judg

es. The nearly 1.7

-

million

-

member American Legion developed the contest to

encourage young people to improve their communications skills and to study the U.S.

Constitution. More than $3 million in scholarships have been awarded over the history

of the cont

est.

​

National

Champion:

Haley Bock, Post 3, District 11