Oratorical Contest-Post #104​
Questions- Post #104  contact  --   Rueben Nathe,     Post #104  - Committee Chairman  
​320-593-8654----  EM: Ruebenn@hutchtel.net   or - HELP RECRUIT--  High School Counselors- also have information 

2027 Oratorical Contests
Post #104  -- January  18-23-TBD?
Sign up deadline January 15th
​Eligible Grades 9 thru 12

*Litchfield Post #104  Local Contest
Prizes  1st $500. 2nd $250. 3rd $125. 4th+ TBD?
Champions moves on to District 7 Contest

 *Mn District #7   Sunday January 31st  1PM
Hosted by Willlmar Am. Legion
Prizes 1st $1,000.-2nd $600.00 3rd $300.
Champion moves on to Department Contest

* State\Department Contest
Sat-​February 27th
Prizes 1st $1,500. 2nd $1000. 3rd 700.

National Contest
May 14-16, 2027
Hillsday College, Michigan
Prizes..
1st $25 ,000- 2nd 22,500.  3rd 20,000

Review a National Competition Finalist Sample Video --additional video's below on this page. 
View --State\Mn Department-- Minnesota & National Information. below.
2026 Post #104 Oratorical Contest
News Release -
Post & District #7 Contest  Feb 1, 2026
at Willmar, Am. Legion 
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On Thursday January 22. 2026 American Legion, Nelsan-Horton Post #104, Litchfield, Mn conducted the annual American Legion High School Oratorical Contest at Litchfield American Legion. 
This Oratorical Contest ask students to prepare an 8–10-minute oration which must be on some aspect of the United States Constitution with emphasis on citizen’s duties and obligations to our government. It is part of a Post, District, State\Dept. and National contest. With the Champions of each contest advancing at each level.  The American Legion provides scholarship funds at every level of the contest. The National Contest   provides $25,000 to the 1st Place champion.  Winning contestants will have the opportunity to advance from the local Post competition to District, State\Department and the National Contest.   Each contest provides scholarship funds.  The National Contest will be held May 15-17, 2026  at Hillsdale college, in Hillsdale Michigan. 
Litchfield Post #104  Oratorical Contest  1st Place Champion will receive scholarship funds  of $500.00 2nd Place   $250.00  3rd place $125.   scholarship funds was available. The Mn District 7th American Legion contest which will  be held  at the Willmar American Legion on February 1st  at 1PM. -  1st   Place Scholarship is $1000. ,  2nd Place $600.  3rd $300.    The 1st Place Champion  of the Mn  7th District contest will advance to the State\Dept.  of MN contest to be held on February 28th where the 1st place Scholarship is $1,500. The winner will advance to the National American Legion High School Oratorical Contest. All expenses are provided by the American Legion and their various contests.
 
Results from the Post #104 local 2026 Oratorical Contest were determined as follows.
First place honors, and a $500.00 scholarship, was won by   AYDEN HILKER who  is the son of Jeremy Hilker & Krystal Chapin  of Litchfield.  Ayden is a junior attending Litchfield High School. Congratulations Ayden . We wish you great success as you advance to the Legion District #7 & future contests as you represent Litchfield.   No other contestants from Litchfield  applied to compete for these scholarship funds. 
Post #104  thanks the Litchfield High School staff for their assistance and Post #104 volunteers--------
Committee members: Brenda Rick, & Rebecca Gunderson of the Auxiliary and High School Staff HS Principal Jason Michels,  and Counselor, Laura Nelson for their assistance.
Rueben Nathe,    Post #104 Americanism Chair
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  • February 1, 2026      Am. Legion Mn District  #7  Contest
Ayden Hilker  Litchfield entered the D#7 Contest and took 2nd place and was awarded  $600.00 in Scholarship funds.  D#7 Champion was Eileen Bosch of Willmar who was awarded $1000.00 in Scholarship funds and she will advance to the State\Dept Contest Feb 28, 2026--
Congratulations to the Champion and all the Contestants.   To Ayden Hilker  Post #104 representative Congratulations and thank you for participating and representing Litchfield.   Ayden  won $1,100.00  in scholarship funds.
Be sure to congratulate him when you see him
2025 Post #104 Oratorical Contest
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Commander Marland Meyer Presents
Certificate & Scholarship Funds to
2025-Post #104 Champion
& District 7 Runner-Up-      03-31-25
To LHS Senior-William Pennertz

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News Release ---------
2025 POST #104 Litchfield Oratorical Contest
​Litchfield, American Legion Nelsan-Horton Post # 104
High School Oratorical Contest
On Tuesday January 28. 2025 American Legion, Nelsan-Horton Post #104, Litchfield, Mn conducted the annual American Legion High School Oratorical Contest  
This Oratorical Contest ask students to prepare an 8–10-minute oration which must be on some aspect of the United States Constitution with emphasis on citizen’s duties and obligations to our government. It is part of a Post, District, State\Dept. and National contest. With the Champions of each contest advancing at each level.  The American Legion provides scholarship funds at every level of the contest. The National Contest   provides $25,000 to the 1st Place champion.  Winning contestants will have the opportunity to advance from the local Post competition to District, State\Department and the National Contest.   Each contest provides scholarship funds.  The National Contest was held May 16-18, 2025  in Hillsdale, Michigan. 
The Litchfield Post #104 and it’s 2025  1st Place Champion will receive a scholarship of $500.00 and advance to the Seventh District American Legion contest which will  be held  at the Willmar American Legion on February 2nd  at 1PM 2025 -  1st   Place Scholarship is $800.00.   Additional scholarship prizes for 2nd, 3rd will be available.    The 1st Place winner of the 7th District contest will advance to the State\Dept.  of MN contest to be held on February 22th where the 1st place scholarship is $1,500. The winner will advance to the National American Legion High School Oratorical Contest. All expenses are provided by the American Legion and their various contests. 
Results from the Post #104 local 2025 Oratorical Contest were determined as follows.
First place honors, and a $500.00 scholarship, was won by   WILLIAM  Pennertz who  is the son of Richard & Heidi Pennertz  of Litchfield for his oration. William is a senior attending Litchfield High School. Congratulations William . We wish you great success as you advance to the Legion District #7 & future contests as you represent Litchfield.   No other ontestants from Litchfield  applied to compete for these scholarship funds. Post #104  thanks the Litchfield High School staff for their assistance and Post #104 volunteers--------
Committee members: Brenda Rick, of the Auxiliary and High School Staff HS principal Jason Michels,  and Counselor, Laura Nelson for their assistance.
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February 2, 2025      Am. Legion District  #7  Contest....   
William Pennertz  Litchfield entered the D#7 Contest and took 2nd place and was awarded  $400.00 in Scholarship funds.  D#7 Champion was Alyson Johnson of Willmar who was awarded $800.00 in Scholarship funds and she will advance to the State\Dept Contest Feb 22, 2025-- Allison Sarsland of New London  placed 3rd and was awarded $200.00 in scholarship funds.    Congratulations to the Champion and all the Contestants.   To William Pennertz  Post #104 representative Congratulations and thank you for participating and representing Litchfield.   William totaled $900.00 in scholarship funds.
Be sure to congratulate him when you see him.

​Oratorical Contest
 for 2026 Post #104 Litchfield Oratorical Contest
planned for the Week of January 22an
depending on # of candidates..
Post #104 Will again sponsor a Oratorical Contest-for High School Students
based on a speech contest the subject being the U. S. Constitution.
Local Litchfield P#104 Contest ---Scholarship  Prize & Funds offered...     
​
1st Place  $500.  2nd $250.  3rd 125.  4-6 TBD=====
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The Champion Moves on to District #7 Competition  February 1st

It's available to High School students Grades 9 thru 12--   Pass the information to all Students.

 2026 Oratorical Contest Litchfield-Applications available -LHS  Contact HS-Counselors  - or P#104
Submit Application  ASAP  so planning can begin  for students
Define the Oratorical Speech Program
“A constitutional speech contest”
The American Legion Oratorical Contest exists to develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution among high school students. Since 1938, the program has presented participants with an academic speaking challenge that teaches important leadership qualities, the history of our nation’s laws, the ability to think and speak clearly, and an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship. The program has featured numerous politicians and prominent contestants over the years, including former Presidents & National television commentators and talk show hosts.
2025--large Scholarship awards &  Prizes .   Young orators earn some of the most generous college scholarships available to high school students. Over $203,500 in scholarships can be awarded each year. The overall National Contest Champion  receives a $25,000. award & scholarship.--- Second place receives a  $22,500. scholarship and Third place receives a $20,000  scholarship.   Each department\ (state) winner who is certified into and participates in the national contest receives First round receives a $2,000 scholarship. Those who advance past the first round receive an additional $2,000 scholarship. The American Legion’s National Organization awards the scholarships, which can be used at any college or university in the United States.
High school students under age 20 are eligible. Competition begins at the post level and advances to a state competition. Legion department representatives certify one winner per state to the national contest, where department winners compete against each other in two speaking rounds. The contest caps off with a final round that decides the three top finishers.
Speaking subjects must be on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with some emphasis on the duties and obligations of citizens to our government. Speeches are 8 to 10 minutes long; plus a  3- to 5-minute speech on an assigned topic also are part of the contest. 
NOTE:   For local D#7 Mn Posts holding local contests exceptions to National rules may be allowed.     ie:   like not including the assigned topic feature—or allowing notes. 
 However, the D#7 contest follows all National rules.  



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2025 Local Contest
The Litchfield, American Legion Nelsan-Horton Post # 104
High School Oratorical Contest
 
 American Legion, Nelsan-Horton Post #104, Litchfield, Mn will conduct a Oratorical Contest at  Litchfield Senior High school the week of January 20th, 2025
 
This Oratorical Contest ask students to prepare an 8–10-minute oration which must be on some aspect of the United States Constitution with emphasis on citizen’s duties and obligations to our government. It is part of a District, State\Dept. and National contest.  Winners advance at each level.  The American Legion provides scholarship funds at every level of the contest. The National Contest   provides $25,000 to the 1st Place champion.  Winning students will have the opportunity to advance from local to District, State\Department and the National Contest.   The National Contest will be held May 16-18 , Hillsdale College, Michigan 
The Post #104 and 1st Place winner will receive and advance to the Seventh District American Legion contest which will  be held in at the Willmar American Legion on February 5th at 1PM.    
 
Results from the Post #104 local 2023 Oratorical Contest were determined as follows.
First place honors, and a $500.00 scholarship, was won by   TRAVIS CRUSOE who is  the son of Joe  & Amy Crusoe of rural Litchfield for his oration. Travis was a 2023 Senior attending Litchfield High School. Travis currently is  a member of the Mn National Guard, his interest is studying  history and works a part time job.  
​You-tube Video-  Reviews
Resource information
Prior Year National Champions
Post #104 Legion  Scholarships & Programs 
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Print on pamphlet listing of Oratorical Contest

2025  Information Pamphlet  about ALL Student Post #104 ---  Scholarships

Application Form
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Post 104 Web Site & Lounge