H.W. Dare Maness High School Oratorical Contest
All questions regarding the 2016/2017 contest should be directed to
Clark Smith, Department Oratorical Contest Chairman
at (864) 415-9746 or clark.smith54@gmail.com
2016/2017
The American Legion Department of South Carolina
H. W. Dare Maness
High School Oratorical Scholarship Program
"A Constitutional Speech Contest"
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 skills, the ability to think and speak clearly and intelligently, and the preparation for acceptance of the duties and responsibilities, the rights, and privileges of American citizenship.
The winner at the department (state) level who is ceritified into and participates in the first round of the national contest will receive a $1,500 scholarship. Each first round winner who advances to and participates in the second round, but does not advance to the final round, will receive an additional $1,500 scholarship to pursue education ay any college or university in the United States.
National scholarship awards are presented to the three finalists in the final round of the national contest as follows: 1st place - $18,000; 2nd place - $16,000; 3rd place - $14,000.
A contestant must give both their prepared oration and the assigned topic discourse in order to receive the scholarship.
More details are available in the links below:
2017 Oratorical Contest Rules Contest Worker Instructions:
Memo to all Post Commanders, Adjutant's and Post Oratorical Chairmen Tabulator Instructions
Memo to High School Principals and School Guidance Offices Timekeepers Instructions
2017 Certification Form Escort Instructions
Chairman's Guide Ushers Instructions
Judges Prepared Oration scratch tallysheet Judges Instructions
Judges assigned topic scratch tallysheet
All post contests must be completed by January 24, 2017
All Quadrant Contests will be held on Saturday February 18, 2017- locations listed below:
Quadrant One Location
Greenwood Post 20 806 Calhoun St, Greenwood, SC 29649 @ 9:30 am
Contact Mike Strauss, 1st Vice Commander Legion100percent@bellsouth.net
803-599-3131 Cell
Quadrant Two Location
American Legion Post 6, 200 Pickens St, Columbia, SC 29205 - @ 10:00 am
Contact John Britt, 2nd Vice Commander brittj@prtcnet.com
(864) 677-3397 H, (864) 684-3402
Quadrant Three Location
St. Pauls United Methodist Church, 1629 W. Palmetto St, Florence, SC @10:00 am
Walt Richardson, 3rd Vice Commander walt@sc.rr.com
(803) 345-5042 H, (803) 600-4409
Quadrant Four Location
Boys and Girls Club of HHI @ 10:00 am
151 Gumtree
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
Roberta Poulos, 4th Vice Commander, rcpoulos@msn.com
(843) 645-4141 H (630) 632-2688
The Department Contest will be held at American Legion Department Headquarters, 103 Legion Plaza Rd, Columbia, SC 29210 on Saturday, March 11, 2017 at 10:00 am