The local, North Cobb Post 304 American Legion speech contest is scheduled for Saturday, February 9, 2008, in which the contestants deliver an 8-10 minute prepared speech on the United States Constitution and the citizens obligations to it. Also, a 3-5 minute extemporaneous speech is presented on one of four selected Amendments to the Constitution.

The annual high school oratorical contest, “A Constitutional Speech Contest”, is open to any high school student who is a citizen of or lawful permanent resident of the United States and a bona fide student. It is open to public, home-schooled, parochial and private high school students.

The local contest winner moves on to the District Five contest, to be held a week later, and the District winner moves to the Area contest, also a week later. The winners from four Georgia areas move to the State contest to be held in Perry, GA on March 1, 2008, and the State winner advances to the National Contest in Indianapolis, IN on April 4-6, 2008. All expenses incurred for participating are picked up by The American Legion entities.

The local Post contest offers cash awards of $200, $150 and $100 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, respectively; District winners receive $350, $250, and $150; Area cash prizes are $350, $250 and $175. Four contestants in the State Contest will be awarded $1,300, $900, $650 and $350, respectively, for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place finishes.

The National Contest leads to scholarship money of $18,000 for first place, $16,000 for second and $14,000 for third place finishes.

If you are interested in participating, please email Post Contest Chairman David Burdette at dburdette488@bellsouth.net, or call him at (770) 428-0400 for further details, including locations of the events.