THE AMERICAN LEGION DEPARTMENT OF HAWAII
612 MCCULLY STREET HONOLULU, HAWAII 96826
(808) 946-6383, oratorical@hilegion.org)
THE AMERICAN LEGION DEPARTMENT OF HAWAII'S ORATORICAL
The American Legion, Department of Hawaii Notice: Sep 17th, 2025
/files/TAL.Flyer.Oratorical.jpg
We invite your students to participate in the 2026 American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program, which is “A Constitutional Speech Contest,” to be held on March 14, 2026 at the Oahu Veterans Center, 1298 Kukila Street, Honolulu HI 96818. The purpose of the contest is to instill a better knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States in high school students. It also develops leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly and the preparation for acceptance of the duties, responsibilities, and privileges of American citizenship. Our 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025 winners hailed from Admiral Arthur W. Radford High School [Honolulu, (Oahu)], twice from Konawaena High School [Kealakekua (Hawaii)] and Iolani School (Honolulu Oahu)! Our last Hawaii Constitutionalist to win the National Scholarships was Robert H. Maus in 1976.
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 State’s certified winner that participates in the National contest’s first round will receive an additional $2,000 scholarship. Those contestants who advance to the semifinals, 2nd round, receive an additional $2,000 scholarship. The American Legion’s National Organization awards the scholarships, which may be used in any college or university in the United States.
To qualify for the National Contest, the contestant must first participate in the State of Hawaii contest which will be held on March 14, 2026, 0900, at Oahu Veterans Center, 1298 Kukila St. Honolulu HI. Our American Legion Department of Hawaii 2026 Oratorical web page is found https://www.hilegion.org/ and then choose ORATORICAL. The contestants will receive check awards; 1st place $1,000.00, 2nd place $500.00 and 3rd place $300.00. The winner and their chaperone will receive airfare and hotel accommodations to represent Hawaii in the National Finals, which will be May 15-17 in Hillsdale, Mich., at Hillsdale College. Quarterfinal and semifinal contests will likely be scheduled for Saturday, May 16 with the finals likely scheduled for Sunday, May 17. All contestants and chaperones will arrive the Friday of the contest weekend. All contestants and chaperones will reside on campus at Hillsdale College. A mandatory pre-contest orientation session for all contestants will take place the Friday evening of the contest weekend. A banquet honoring all contestants will be Sunday afternoon, following the morning’s national championship contest. A chaperone over 21 years of age must accompany each contestant to the National Contest.
National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA): Students should also inform their local NSDA representative, usually a high school teacher or speech and debate coach. This is an opportunity to promote the Oratorical program to local students who already participate in speech competitions. Students earn double NSDA points when they compete in an American Legion Oratorical contest.
The following website will help participants obtain requirements & rules on the National Contest: https://www.legion.org/get-involved/youth-programs/oratorical-contest. I recommend viewing the past national winners available on YouTube such as “2025 American Legion National Oratorical Contest Finals Champion” and “2025 American Legion National Oratorical Contest Finals.”
Each participant should complete the TYPED application and ensure it will be received at the American Legion Department of Hawaii by 09Mar2026.
Mahalo for encouraging your student’s participation!
Typed applications should be scanned & emailed to oratorical@hilegion.org 
or snail mail received by March 9, 2026 to:
The American Legion Department of Hawaii
Attn: Oratorical Contest Committee
612 McCully Street
Honolulu, HI 96826
Sincerely,
CR Drumheller
Department of Hawaii Oratorical Chairman
(808-927-9663)
Email: oratorical@hilegion.org
https://www.hilegion.org/ & select Oratorical
Oratorical Day of Contest
Please arrive by 0845; we begin @0900. Dress smartly; Uniforms (scouting, JROTC et cetera) are not permitted. Appropriate business attire is required for all contestants. Contestants may not wear awards and medals from previous competitions. Prior to beginning, we will not introduce you except as contestant #1, #2 and so on. No one will know your school et cetera but the Oratorical Chairman. You won't know your judges. All of us will introduce ourselves after the contest ends and then it will be time for awards and pictures! We don't have video or photography during the contest to avoid distractions.
Oratorical Contest Prepared Oration
Your Prepared 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. The prepared oration discourse must not consume less than eight (8) minutes or more than ten (10) minutes for delivery.
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.
Oratorical Contest Assigned Topics
Once the Prepared Orations are complete, we will choose one of the Amendments, provided the previous fall season by the National Office, as the Assigned Topic. Contestants will be informed of the amendment separately, given 5 minutes to prepare their 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 4
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 I, 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.
HIGH SCHOOL ORATORICAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
CONSTITUTIONAL SPEECH CONTEST APPLICATION DATA
TYPE all required information (handwritten forms are difficult to read)
*The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires you to provide your full name (including middle name), date of birth, and gender as it appears on your government issued form of identification.
Student Information:
I shall participate in The American Legion 2026 High School Oratorical Program.
Application Date:
*Full Name:
FIRST MIDDLE LAST SUFFIX
*Date of Birth:
*Gender:
Age:
Grade:
E-Mail:
Home Phone: Cell Phone:
Mailing / Street Address:
STREET CITY STATE ZIP CODE
Name of High School:
*Mother's Name:
E-Mail:
Home Phone: Cell Phone:
*Father's Name:
E-Mail:
Home Phone: Cell Phone:
*Should you win, who will escort you to the National Oratorical?
What is your preferred airport to & from Home?
List school or class offices you hold or held (attach additional pages if necessary):
Extracurricular actives in which you participated (attach additional pages if necessary):
College or University you plan to attend:
Career you desire:
Chaperone for Student Selected to Attend the National Oratorical Contest?
A chaperone over 21 years of age must accompany each contestant to the National Contest.
*Name:
Relationship to Student:
E-Mail:
Home Phone: Cell Phone:
Name of Teacher or Speech Coach:
Name:
School:
School Address:
E-Mail:
Home /office Phone: Cell Phone:
CONTESTANT CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify the above-named student is enrolled at:
School:
Current Grade:
Principal’s Printed Name & Signature:
(please copy principal when submitting as certification)
Principal’s Email Address:
This application must be completed and received by the American Legion Department of Hawaii by 09Mar2026
NOTE: THIS FORM MAY BE SHARED