Wednesday, January 2, 2013 11:00 am

The purpose of The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program "A Constitutional Speech Contest" is to develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States on the part of high school students. Other objectives of the contest include the development of leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly and intelligently, and the preparation for acceptance of the American citizenship.

Scholarship awards are presented to the three finalists in the final round of the national contest as follows: 1st Place---$18,000.00; 2nd Place---$16,000.00; 3rd Place---$14,000.00. Each participant in the first round at national will receive a $1500.00 scholarship. And each first round winner who advances to and participates in the second round will receive an additional $1500.00 scholarship.

Eligible participants in the contest shall 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 (9-12 GRADES) (public, parochial, military, private or home school) in which the cirriculum is considered to be of high school level , commencing with grade nine (9) and terminating with grade twelve (12). Students must be enrolled in high school during the time of participation at any level of the contest.

High school students that graduate early during the school year are eligible to compete if they are not enrolled in college, university, trade school or other institutiion of higher learning at the time of the department finals contest.

Mr. William F. Curtis, Government Teacher at Cannon County High School, is the contest coordinator, for Post 279 competition. Mr. John Basinger is the Oratorical Contest Director for the American Legion Post 279. American Legion Post 279 competition is scheduled for Monday, 7:00 PM, January 7, 2013 at the Cannon County High School. District level will be February 18, 2013 in Murfreesboro. Divisional level will be at the Senior Citizens Center in Woodbury on Saturday, February 23, 2013 and on March 2, 2013.