Contestants at the National Oratorical Contest wait to give their opening speeches Saturday morning. Steve Brooks

Tune in today for Oratorical finals

The finals are set for the 73rd National Oratorical Contest, which will be webcast live at 10 a.m. EDT today at www.legion.org.

Elizabeth Blessing of Auburn, Ala.; Victoria Black of Iva, S.C.; and Brooke Conner of Bridport, Vt., advanced through Saturday's quarterfinal and semifinal rounds and will compete for first place and an $18,000 college scholarship on Sunday. Besides the $18,000 top award, the second- and third-place finishers receive $16,000 and $14,000 scholarships, respectively.

Also advancing through the quarterfinal round where Derek Schulze of Warrenton, Mo.; Kelsey Marsolek of Independence, Wis.; Mitchell Murdock of Kingston, Wash.; Madison Kircher of Queensbury, N.Y.; Aleksandr Fedyszyn of Wheeling, West Va.; and Christina Sauer of Corydon, Ind. (representing Kentucky).