Youth News

ESSAY CONTEST Grades 9-12
 

As  American Legionnaires, we fully believe that education is the  cornerstone upon which the future of America is built.  Education  becomes the first requisite of good citizenship and the relationship of  The American Legion to Pennsylvania citizens is of prime importance as a  means of keeping us a free civilization.

Our approach to supporting solid educational principles is direct and  positive. We agree with the PA Department of Education’s initiative of  “writing across the curriculum” and we reward the efforts of involved  students through our annual essay scholarship program beginning at the  local Post.

Any student enrolled in grades 9 through 12 in a public, private, parochial, cyber school or who is home schooled in Pennsylvania is eligible to participate in the High School Essay Contest.  Students in grades 6, 7, 8 are encouraged to participate in the Middle School Essay Program in preparation for the high school program.

Through the annual Department of Pennsylvania American Legion Essay  scholarship contest, students are provided an opportunity to showcase  their talents and abilities in English by using originality, accuracy  and research as evidence, while learning that the responsibilities and  duties of good citizenship can be both rewarding and fun

Since the inception of the Department of Pennsylvania State Essay  Contest in 1935, The American Legion has awarded well over $500,000 in  scholarships, while local American Legion Posts, Counties, Districts and  Sections have also offered suitable awards and prizes for their  respective best essay winners.

Prizes to Be Awarded

• The Department of Pennsylvania State Essay First Place Winner will be awarded a $3,500 scholarship, a plaque,  and a trip to this year’s Pennsylvania American Legion Convention in  July to read the winning essay to the assembled delegates.
• The Second Place Winner will receive a $3,000 scholarship and a plaque.
• The Third Place Winner will receive a $2,500 scholarship and a plaque.

You can talk your way through college if you’re a winner in the American Legion National High School Oratorical contest.

The Oratorical contest was developed  primarily to instill a better knowledge and appreciation of the  Constitution of the United States in high school students. Other  objectives include the development of leadership qualities, the ability  to think and speak clearly, and the preparation for acceptance of the  duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship.

Another purpose of the program is to  assist students in paying the high cost of a college education. The  Department of Pennsylvania American Legion awards the first place winner  a $7,500 scholarship, plaque and expense paid trip to the Pennsylvania  American Legion State convention to present his/her winning oration,  plus the opportunity to represent Pennsylvania in the National and  Regional Contests and receive an additional $1,500 scholarship from the  National Organization. The second place winner receives a $5,000  scholarship and plaque and the third place winner receives a $4,000  scholarship and plaque.

The winner of the Pennsylvania  Oratorical contest will move onto the National American Legion  Oratorical program and will be eligible to win $18,000 for first place,  $16,000 for second place and $14,000 for third place. First round  participants in the National contest receive a $1500 scholarship. Second  Round participants who do not advance to the final round will receive  an additional $1500 scholarship.

The Contest

The contest will consist of two parts  (A) An 8 – 10 minute, memorized oration will be given on some phase of  the United States Constitution. (B) A 3 – 5 minute oration on one of the  four “assigned topics” assigned by National Headquarters.

The contestant may not use any notes  or prompts when giving their oration. A minimum of five (5) judges will  judge all contests, grading independently. Local and county contest can  be judged by a minimum of three (3) judges.

The tabulators will tabulate all  scores of the judges and apply any penalties as directed by the Chairman  of the contest. The Chairman will verify the result and announce the  winners.

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