Greenbrier County High School students are invited by the American Legion’s 9th District to compete at the Summersville City Hall located at 400 Broad Street, Surnmersville, in the Annual American Legion High School Oratorical Contest. The invitation to enter this year’s events is being extended by the local American Legion A. Jackson Chapman Post #131, Post Commander Roy Stover and District Oratorical Chairperson Barbara Burdette.
The contest for Greenbrier County High School students has been arranged with the full cooperation of local school officials. The contest will occur on Jan. 30, 2016 beginning at 2 p.m. at the Summersville City Hall.
The subject for the Prepared Oration portion of the contest must be about some phase of the Constitution of the United States government. The prepared oration must be the original effort of each contestant and must be 8-10 minutes in length. The Assigned Topic portion discourse must not consume less than three minutes or more than five minutes in delivery. The topic will be on some phase of the Constitution of the United States. The information for the topic will be supplied by the Oratorical Chairperson.
The 9th District level 1st place winner will receive a trophy, a $200 check and advance to the Sectional program. The 2nd place winner will receive a medal and a check for $150, and the 3rd place winner will receive a medal and a check for $100. All contestants will receive a lapel pin. First place winners at the state level will win a cash prize of $2,000, a state college or university scholarship and will advance to the national program.
At the national competition, in addition to the awards for winners in the various elimination rounds of competition, college scholarships of $18,000, $16,000 and $14,000 will be awarded to the first through third places in the national finals.
The American Legion will pay the expenses of state winners to the national contest.
Greenbrier County high school students who are interested in entering the competition will find complete rules and contest information at www.legion.org under the heading Programs, and in the drop down the heading Oratorical contest. Interested students can also contact their school counselors or 9th District Oratorical Chairperson, Barbara Burdette at bburdette3@frontier.com or call 304-661-4979.
