State Champions to Vie for Scholarship Dollars

INDIANAPOLIS, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

Who: 53 state and territorial high school speech champions.

What: Will vie for scholarships of $18,000, $16,000 and $14,000 in the final round of the 80th annual American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program - "A Constitutional Speech Contest."

When: 
Quarterfinals: 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., Eastern, Saturday, April 22, will narrow field from 50 to 9
Semifinals: 3:15 p.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern, Saturday, April 22 will narrow field from 9 to 3
Finals: 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Eastern, Sunday, April 23 Live webcast at www.legion.org

Where:  Wyndham Indianapolis West Hotel, 2544 Executive Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46241
(317) 248-2481.

Cool Under Pressure: Competitors will deliver 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.

Background: The 2.2-million member American Legion, the nation's largest veterans organization, holds the American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program - "A Constitutional Speech Contest" to encourage young Americans to improve their communications skills and to study the U.S. Constitution.  Annually, more than 6,000 high school students begin competition at the American Legion Post-community level. The Indianapolis-based American Legion National Headquarters provides transportation to all of the "Finalist" as well as board and lodging in Indianapolis for each competitor and a guest. 

Media Availability

• Prior to the contestants' arrival in Indianapolis call John Raughter, (317) 630-1253 or 317-441-8847 – mobile for contestant's contact information.
• Immediately following each round, contact John Raughter of The American Legion National Headquarters, cellular (317) 441-8847 for up to the minute reporting

SOURCE The American Legion

Related Links

http://www.legion.org