77th National Oratorical Contest

Fifty-three high school contestants representing their respective American Legion department participated in The American Legion's 77th National High School Oratorical Program: "A Constitutional Speech Contest," at the Wyndham Indianapolis West Hotel in Indiana on April 5, 2014. Photos by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Andrew Bambrick of New Jersey, Isaac Taylor of California, and Jacob McHugh of Charlotte, NC chat in the holding room before the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Saturday, April 5, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Andrew Bambrick of New Jersey, Isaac Taylor of California, and Jacob McHugh of Charlotte, NC chat in the holding room before the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Saturday, April 5, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Samantha Goerger and her mother Tammi of Wyndham, North Dakota embrace before participating in the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Saturday, April 5, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Samantha Goerger and her mother Tammi of Wyndham, North Dakota embrace before participating in the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Saturday, April 5, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Staff and contestants make their way to contest rooms at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Saturday, April 5, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Staff and contestants make their way to contest rooms at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Saturday, April 5, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Contestants participate in the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Saturday, April 5, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Contestants participate in the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Saturday, April 5, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Contestants participate in the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Saturday, April 5, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Contestants participate in the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Saturday, April 5, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Contestants participate in the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Saturday, April 5, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Contestants participate in the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Saturday, April 5, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Participant Andrew Bambrick of New Jersey shows off his American themed tie at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Participant Andrew Bambrick of New Jersey shows off his American themed tie at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo draws his speaking order before the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo draws his speaking order before the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Deputy Director of Americanism for The American Legion Mike Buss, moderator for the 77th National Oratorical Contest waits in the wings at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Deputy Director of Americanism for The American Legion Mike Buss, moderator for the 77th National Oratorical Contest waits in the wings at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Brandon Posner of Doylestown, Penn., delivers his prepared oration during the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Brandon Posner of Doylestown, Penn., delivers his prepared oration during the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Brandon Posner of Doylestown, Penn., delivers his prepared oration during the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Brandon Posner of Doylestown, Penn., delivers his prepared oration during the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo., delivers his oration during the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo., delivers his oration during the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo., delivers his oration during the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo., delivers his oration during the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo., delivers his oration during the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo., delivers his oration during the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo., delivers his oration during the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo., delivers his oration during the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ellen Densmore of Denver delivers her oration at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ellen Densmore of Denver delivers her oration at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ellen Densmore of Denver delivers her oration at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ellen Densmore of Denver delivers her oration at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Brandon Posner of Doylestown, Penn., gives his oration at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Brandon Posner of Doylestown, Penn., gives his oration at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Timekeepers hand Mike Buss the official time for an assigned topic speech at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Timekeepers hand Mike Buss the official time for an assigned topic speech at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Contestants participate in the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Contestants participate in the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo receives the first place award from National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo receives the first place award from National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ellen Densmore of Denver, third-place recipient, chats with other participants after the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ellen Densmore of Denver, third-place recipient, chats with other participants after the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Brandon Posner of Doylestown, Penn., with Legionnaires at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Brandon Posner of Doylestown, Penn., with Legionnaires at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo., shows off his first place award at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo., shows off his first place award at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo., with an SAL member after taking first place at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo., with an SAL member after taking first place at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo., speaks on the phone with federal judge Duane Benton, United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, after winning first place at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo., speaks on the phone with federal judge Duane Benton, United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, after winning first place at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Particpant Jakob Puckett of Ohio takes a selfie with Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo after Kumar won first place at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Particpant Jakob Puckett of Ohio takes a selfie with Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo after Kumar won first place at the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Group photo of 77th National Oratorical Contest participants at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Group photo of 77th National Oratorical Contest participants at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger, Brandon Posner of Doylestown, Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo, Ellen Densmore of Denver, and Americanism Commission Chairman Rich Anderson (left to right) after the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger, Brandon Posner of Doylestown, Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo, Ellen Densmore of Denver, and Americanism Commission Chairman Rich Anderson (left to right) after the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Finalists Brandon Posner of Doylestown, Penn., Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo, and, Ellen Densmore of Denver after the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
Finalists Brandon Posner of Doylestown, Penn., Ashwath Kumar of Columbia, Mo, and, Ellen Densmore of Denver after the 77th National Oratorical Contest at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.