—PROGRAMS
Oratorical Contest
Since 1938, the contest has developed knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution among high school students.
Eighty sixth edition of
THE AMERICAN LEGION
High School Oratorical Scholarship Program
“A Constitutional Speech Contest”
Quick Information and Eligibility
The American Legion Oratorical Contest exists to develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution among high school students. Since 1938, the program has presented 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.
Young orators earn some of the most generous college scholarships available to high school students. Over $203,500 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 department (state) winner who is certified into and participates in the national contest’s first round receives a $2,000 scholarship. Those who advance past the first round receive an additional $2,000 scholarship. The American Legion’s National Organization awards the scholarships, which can be used at any college or university in the United States.
The New Jersey Contest will award a $4,000 scholarship for the first place winner, $2,500 for second place, $2,000 for third place and $1,000 each for fourth and fifth place.
The New Jersey winner will advance to the National Finals Contest, a weekend’s competition of Quarter-final, Semi-final and National final contests that are at Hillsdale College in Michigan.
NATIONAL FINALS – May 15 through May 17, 2026
Quarter – Finals and Semi-Finals will be held Saturday, May 16th, 2026.
Finals will be held Sunday morning, May 17th, 2026.
Hillsdale College
33 East College Street
Hillsdale Michigan 49242
317-437-7341
Eligible participants must be citizens of or lawful permanent residents of the United States. All contestants must be bona fide students herein described as any student under the age of 20 years on the date of the national contest who is presently enrolled in a high school or junior high school (public, parochial, military, private or home school). The curriculum of the school must be considered to be of high school level, commencing with grade 9 and terminating with grade 12. Students must be enrolled in high school or junior high school during the time of participation at any level of The American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest. Contestants must either be legally domiciled within or attend an educational institution within the department that they enter competition. Contestants can enter competition through only one department.
High school students that graduate early during the school year are eligible to compete if they are not enrolled in a college, university, trade school or other institution of higher learning at the time of the department finals contest.
The three finalists of the national contest are ineligible for further participation at any level.
Events
DEPARTMENT CONTEST TIME SCHEDULE
POST LEVEL - to be completed by February 7, 2026(results to the County Chairperson by February 14, 2026)
COUNTY LEVEL - to be completed by February 21, 2026(results to the District Chairperson by March 7, 2026)
DISTRICT LEVEL -to be completed by March 14, 2026(results to the Department and the Department Chairman immediately after contest completion)
District 1 Competition - Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic
TBA
District 2 Competition – Morris, Sussex, Union, Warren
Date, Location and time - TBA
District 3 Competition - Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, Monmouth
TBA
District 4 Competition – Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Ocean
TBA
District 5 Competition – Atlantic, Cape May Cumberland, Salem
Date, Location and time - TBA
Department Competition - TBA.
National Competition – Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan May 15-17, 2026
Quarter – Finals and Semi-Finals May 16, 2026.
Finals will be held Sunday morning, May 17th, 2026.
Oratorical Chairman
The contact information listed is provided for your convenience.
Find the county that you live in or attend school in and contact the associated District Chairman for guidance.
Department Chairman
Carl Ostergaard
c.ostergaard@njamericanlegion.org
201-320-7106
Department Vice Chairwoman
Sophia Dmoch
District Chairmen
District #1- Sophia Dmoch
Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Passaicd
District #2 - Tom Dresdner
Morris, Sussex, Union and Warren
t.dresdner@njamericanlegion.org
District #3 – Daniel Dunn
Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset
and Monmouth
d.dunn@njamericanlegion.org
732-602-7815
District #4 – Phillip Wien
Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Ocean
philwien3170@gmail.com
609-678-6768
District #5 – Patricia Tatum
Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem
ptatumnj@gmail.com
609-703-2467
Contest
The Prepared Oration
The oration must be on some aspect of the Constitution, with emphasis on a citizen’s duties and obligations to our government. The same subject and oration used in the department contest must be used in the national contest.
Contestants may have a copy of their prepared oration while waiting in the first holding room. They may consult the copy until they exit to begin the contest. The copy will then be surrendered to the contest official monitoring the first holding room.
Quotations must always be indicated as such. Where quotations are more than 10 words in length, the author’s name must be given in the manuscript and cited orally.
It is acceptable to utilize or incorporate short phrases in a foreign language to develop the argument, establish a point, etc. It should be understood that the vast majority of the prepared oration and/or assigned topic must still be delivered in English. Singing is not permitted and will result in immediate disqualification. The contestant may, however, quote a verse(s) of a song(s) provided proper attribution is made.
Assigned Topic Discourse
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 2026 Oratorical Contest
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Article III
Section 3. Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.
Article IV
Section 4. The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
Article VI
Clause 3. The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.