July 30, 2025
American Legion 21 ^st District
4 ^th Division
Department of Texas

Dear Post Commanders,

American Legion District 21 is pleased to announce the 2026 American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program "Constitutional Speech Contest" This year's program begins in November 2025 when local high school students may enter your post's competition to qualify for the Texas and National Oratorical Programs which can ultimately lead to awards of over $203,000 in scholarships to participants. The primary purpose of the American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program is to instill a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the U.S. Constitution among students. Participants grow in leadership ability, and the capacity to think and speak clearly and intelligently about the rights, responsibilities, obligations and privileges of U.S. citizens.

Begin communications with each of your local high schools now so they have sufficient time to prepare and select their entrant to compete in your post's competition. Each Legion post must complete its contest, selecting one winner, between November 1 and December 14, 2025 to compete at the District 21 contest, which must be held between December 15, 2025 and NLT January 11, 2026. The winner of our District competition will then be eligible to compete in the American Legion 4^th Division contest scheduled between January 12 and February 8, 2026. The winner at the Division will be eligible to compete in the Department of Texas contest with the opportunity to continue on to the American Legion national competition. Further details on the program, contest rules and regulations, and specific oration topics to be presented by the contestants are addressed on the following websites. Be sure to share this information with your area high school counselors and faculty.

a. txlegion.org
b. www.legion.org/oratorical

Additional information will be forwarded to you as it becomes available. We are looking forward to a lively District 21 competition, and encourage you to share this scholarship awarding opportunity with your area's high school counselors and faculties. If you have questions or comments, please contact Larry Miller, the District 21 Oratorical Contest coordinator, at lpmiller668@yahoo.com or (325)718-8663.

2025-2026 Oratorical PDF ( this web page as printable PDF )

Don Gray, Commander
American Legion 21^st District
4^th Division, Department of Texas