The Maine American Legion is soliciting high school students to participate in the American Legion Constitutional Speech Contest. This is an opportunity for high school students to develop leadership qualities and enhance public speaking ability while having the opportunity to earn over $20,000 in scholarship money.

High school students of public high schools, private schools and those taking accredited high school home courses are invited to participate in the speech contest about the Constitution of the United States.

Many of Maine’s 172 American Legion posts will sponsor local contests. The winner of each post contest will advance to the district contest, with those winners going on to the Department of Maine, or state, contest. The state winner will advance to the National Contest in Indianapolis, for which travel expenses are paid by the American Legion for the contestant and one chaperone.

The contest consists of two parts – Prepared Oration and Assigned Topic. The subject in the prepared oration must be some phase of the Constitution of the United States, emphasizing the duties and obligations of a citizen to the U.S. government. The portion must be eight to 10 minutes long.

The assigned topic will be one of four selections on some phase of the Constitution selected from the articles and sections.

Post and district contest times and awards will be determined by posts and districts, with contests early enough for the winner to prepare for the state competition on Feb. 16 at Thomas College in Waterville. Each contestant in the state contest will receive $150, with semifinal winners competing for $500 second place and $1,000 first place and the opportunity to advance to the national competition.

State finalists who compete in the National Contest receive $1,500 for participating in the first round. Those in the second round receive an additional $1,500 award. The three finalists vie for $18,000 for first place, $16,000 for second place or $14,000 for third place.

The primary purpose of the American Legion Oratorical Scholarship Program is to instill in high school students a better knowledge and appreciation of the U.S. Constitution. Other objectives are enhanced leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly, and the preparation for acceptance of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship.

The American Legion is eager for parents and teachers to urge children and students to compete in the contest. For information, contact a local American Legion post or the American Legion Department Headquarters at 873-3229, or e-mail legionme@

me.acadia.net.