Deadline is Friday, December 5th, for Registration in the 2026 American Legion Oratorical Contest

American Legion 2026 Oratorical Contest

The Detroit District of the American Legion invites high school students to compete in the 2026 High School Oratorical National Speech Contest.  The invitation to enter was announced by 1^st District Americanism Chairperson Dan McCrary. High School local level winners receive $150 to $175, regional level (Detroit zone) winners receive $200 -$500, State level scholarship awards range from $1,000 to $2,000, and the winner will compete at the National level, with scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $25,000.  The American Legion will pay the expenses of the state winner and the national contest winner.  The subject of the prepared oration of the contest must be about some phase of the Constitution of the United States, emphasizing the duties and obligations of a citizen to the U. S. government. The prepared oration must be the original effort of each contestant and must be 8-10 minutes in length. A 3–5-minute extemporaneous speech on one of 4 preassigned amendment topics is also required. The winner of last year's Detroit area contest was Wisdom Love Walker, a home-schooled junior from Detroit. Wisdom's speech was titled "What Happens When the Cameras are Turned on and the 4th Amendment Off".  https://michiganlegion.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/videos/Wisdom.mp4.

Local high school students (9th - 12th) in Wayne, Oakland, and McComb counties are invited to compete in this year's annual American Legion contest. Since 1938, the program has provided participants with an academic speaking challenge that teaches important leadership qualities, the history of our nation's laws, the ability to think and speak clearly, and an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights, and privileges of American citizenship. The program has featured politicians and prominent contestants over the years, including former president Bill Clinton, presidential candidate Alan Keyes, television commentator Lou Dobbs, Vice President Mike Pence and Grosse Pointe attorney Ted Everingham. Recent Grosse Pointe state finalists include Sophie Hugh, Grosse Pointe South graduate; Maria Fields, Liggett Academy graduate; Ponette Rubio, Abigail Turnbull, Gabriella Scipione, and Detroit Catholic Central High School in Novi graduate, Andrew Kill. Andrew took part in the National Championships and was one of the final 15 contestants.

The American Legion High School Oratorical Contest and Scholarship Program registration deadline date is Friday, December 5^th, 2025.  Registration is online: https://michiganlegion.org/oratorical/. Your application will be rejected if it is later than that date. At the time of registration, there are NO speech requirements other than a possible title.   The first local level of competition does not begin until January of 2025.  The winners of the local competition at the regional level go to the State level contest held on March 28^th, 2026, at the Michigan Historical Museum in Lansing.  The top finalist of the state contest goes to the National held on May 15^th -17^th, 2026, at Hillsdale, Michigan, at Hillsdale College.  Notification Contest dates will be provided by email.
The following 2 hyperlinks provide resources and videos to help the students with the oratory content, rules, and topics of the contest:

https://www.legion.org/get-involved/youth-programs/oratorical-contest/about-the-oratorical-contest

https://www.legion.org/get-involved/youth-programs/oratorical-contest/oratorical-contest-resources   

If you have any questions, call Americanism Chairperson Dan McCrary on 313 492 7462.2