Constitution topic for high school contestants entering speech contest

Elgin Post 57 American Legion, 820 N. Liberty St., Elgin, will host the 11th District Oratorical Contest at 10 a.m. Saturday.

One contestant each from McHenry, Kane, DuPage and Will counties may enter. Contestant will have risen to this level by competing in contests at the post and county levels. Contestants in ninth to 12th grades are eligible.

The American Legion Oratorical contestant must appear before an audience and deliver without notes, amplification or any other form of assistance a self-written oration on the Constitution of the United States. The oration must be no less than eight minutes nor more than 10 minutes in length.

For the second portion of the contest, the contestant must deliver a not less than three minute nor more than five minute oration on one of the amendments of the Constitution. The contestant gets to choose which amendment.

The 2007 11th District winning contestant was Jared Canfield from Naperville. He went on to take third place at the National American Legion Oratorical Contest in Indianapolis, walking away with a $16,000 scholarship.

Tricia L. Dieringer, the 11th District Americanism chairwoman, invites the public and high school students who have an interest in public speaking to attend.