FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

High School Orators wanted by Legion for Speech Competition

	CITY (Month/date, year) – High school students of (town) have been invited by (name of post) Post No. _______ of The American Legion to compete in the _______ Annual American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship competition.  The invitation to enter this years events was extended today by Post Commander (name).

	The contest for (community) students has been arranged with the full cooperation of local school officials and (full name and title) of the (school name) faculty who will assist with the contest arrangements.

	The subject in the prepared oration portion of the contest must be about some phase of the Constitution of the United States government.  The prepared oration must be the original effort of each contestant and must be 8 – 10 minutes in length.

	(Insert here a paragraph detailing the awards offered in the local competition)

	In addition to the awards by winners of the various elimination rounds of competition, college scholarships of $18,000, $16,000 and $14,000 will be awarded to the first through third places in the national finals.  Each state winner who competes in the first round of the national contest will receive a $1,500 scholarship.  Participants in the second round who do not advance to the national final round will receive an additional $1,500 scholarship.  The top three youth orators who have won all previous elimination rounds of the contest will vie for top honors in the national contest on April XX – XX, 20XX at the IUPUI Conference Center and Hotel, Indianapolis, Ind.

	The American Legion will pay the expenses of state winners at the national contest.

	High school student in (town) who are interested in entering the competition will find complete rules and contest information at (list locations, i.e., post, high school office, oratorical chairman, speech instructors, etc.).

-30-

Contact: (name, office & cell phone number)