Houston, we have a problem. 

American Legion Posts across the country are struggling to attract students to compete in the annual Oratorical Contest.  Simply emailing teachers and parents about the contest date and location is not enough to bring the students out.

I was saddened but not surprised that only two out of the nine posts in our District had contestants participate in the Oratorical contest held at Legion Post 25 in Cottonwood, AZ on Feb 28, 2026.

I’ve been hearing for years about how difficult it is to recruit young contestants to this Speech contest which was started in 1938.

The excuse list is long and as a Toastmaster with 30+ years of contest experience, I understand the common challenges.  

Root Causes

• Media saturation and information overload.
• Limited attention spans.
• Lack of knowledge or interest in American history and government.
• Fear of public speaking.
  • Oratorical skills are viewed as old-fashioned.
• Polarization of politics.
  • Topic of U.S. Constitution and Amendments can be viewed as controversial.

What can we do about it?

What can the American Legion officers, members and contest chairs do to attract more high school students to the annual Oratorical Contest?

1. Update and improve the PR and Marketing strategy to connect with Generation Alpha (those born after 2010).
   •  Engage with students, parents, teachers, and youth group leaders in more direct and modern ways.
2. Highlight the benefits of participating:
   • Cash awards and Scholarships(up to $25,000).
   • Develop communication skills.
   • Achievements to include on resume.
   • Civic education and appreciation for our nation’s founding documents.  
3. Provide support and personalized coaching to the contestants who may not be comfortable in speaking before a live audience (Toastmasters, Scouting, Teachers, etc).

My Experience in Prescott, AZ

One week before my Post’s contest in February 2026, I actively recruited two students. 

Here’s what I did:

1. At my weekly Prescott Club Toastmaster meeting, I directly approached a well-spoken young member and told him that I thought that he was a strong speaker and that he’d make a very good contestant in the upcoming contest. I encouraged him to register for the event that morning and texted him within the hour with to the link to sign up.  He committed that day and applied online.
2. I emailed a new Post member who is a retired Army Colonel and JROTC Instructor at a local high school and asked him to talk to his cadets about the contest the following week.  I sent him the event flyer and told him that we needed a participant or 2.  He wrote back the following day that one of his students was interested.  I emailed the interested student the registration link and they applied within 2 days.

Both students participated in the Post and District 8 level contests in February and received cash awards of over $200.

How to recruit more contestants

Recommendations for attracting students to the Oratorical Contest:

Call to Action

• Engage with students in new ways:
  • Gamification, AI, Influencers, and short videos (30 secs –2 mins). 
  • Learning what these new concepts mean to the younger generation is key to reaching them and getting them to participate.
• Marketing and Public Relations
  • Use Social Media- Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
  • Create online Evite link and share QR code.
  • Increase the promotion and awareness of the event in local print and online newspaper articles (use Legion’s Press Release templates and stock photos of young people speaking).
  • Create a simple flyer with color and engaging photo and post in at the library and local coffee shops.
• Leverage and connect in small, trusted groups:
  • Toastmaster clubs- parents and students who are members
  • JROTC classes at High School
  • History teachers at local schools
  • Debate clubs
  • Local homeschool pods
  • Scouting troops
  • Boys and Girls Clubs
  • Church groups
  • 4H Clubs and FFA (Future Farmers of America

Call to Action

Help America’s future leaders learn about and appreciate the U.S. Constitution by connecting with them and encouraging them to get engaged.  

I encourage you to inspire and motivate the students of Gen Alpha with the recommended techniques and actions outlined above.

We can do this by:

Modernizing our marketing approach, highlighting the benefits, and reaching people directly in trusted settings.

Supplement Information:  Use of AI

To help with local, targeted recruiting based on your area/location:

Below is an AI prompt I used in the AI tool Grok.

“What are the best ways to recruit students for the Oratorical Contest held by the American Legion in the Prescott, AZ area”.

Below is the output from Grok (as an example):

                  Recruiting high school students for the **American Legion Oratorical Contest** in Prescott, AZ (typically hosted by American Legion Post 6, with local contests held at venues like the post building or Prescott Library) requires targeted outreach that emphasizes the contest’s benefits: scholarships (up to $25,000 nationally, plus local/district awards), building public speaking skills, leadership development, deeper understanding of the U.S. Constitution, and college resume boosts.

The contest is open to U.S. citizens or lawful residents under age 20 enrolled in high school (grades 9–12, including public, private, parochial, military, charter, or home school). Speeches focus on constitutional topics (8–10 min prepared oration + 3–5 min assigned topic).

Here are the **best, proven ways** to recruit participants, drawn from American Legion guidelines, department chairmen experiences (e.g., North Carolina), NSDA/speech-debate recruitment strategies, and local AZ/Prescott patterns:

1. **Direct School Outreach and Partnerships** 

   Contact high schools in the Prescott area (e.g., Prescott High School, Bradshaw Mountain High School, Granite Mountain School, homeschool groups, and nearby districts like Chino Valley or Mingus Union). 

   – Visit early in the school year (fall) or as soon as contest details are out—bring flyers/brochures from legion.org. 

   – Present to student assemblies, government/civics/history classes, speech/debate/forensics clubs, National Honor Society, or ROTC/JROTC groups (these students often excel in oratory). 

   – Partner with teachers/counselors—ask them to announce it or recommend strong speakers/writers. Local contests often feature Prescott High winners, so leverage past successes.

2. **Highlight Scholarships and Incentives** 

   Promote the big draw: cash scholarships (national top prizes $20,000–$25,000; local levels offer smaller awards) and NSDA points (double points for competing). 

   – Frame it as a low-barrier way to earn college money—no entry fee, just preparation and delivery. 

   – Share alumni success stories (e.g., Mike Pence, Lou Dobbs) to inspire.

3. **Digital and Social Media Promotion** 

   – Post on local Facebook groups (e.g., Prescott community pages, school parent groups, Yavapai County homeschool networks). 

   – Use Instagram/TikTok for short videos: past winners speaking, quick tips on constitutional topics, or “Why I competed” testimonials. 

   – Email blasts via school districts or post announcements in school newsletters/bulletins. 

   – Create a simple flyer/event page with details (e.g., date/time at Post 6, 202 S. Pleasant St., Prescott; deadlines often Jan/Feb for local rounds).

4. **Host Informational Sessions or Mini-Demos** 

   – Run a free “intro workshop” at the Legion post, library, or school—demonstrate a sample speech, explain rules, and let students practice a short topic. 

   – Invite current/former participants to speak about their experience (builds excitement and reduces intimidation). 

   – Schedule during lunch, after school, or as a club meeting to attract curious students.

5. **Community and Veteran Networks** 

   – Leverage American Legion Post 6 members/veterans to speak at schools or events—veterans’ stories resonate when tied to citizenship/Constitution. 

   – Reach homeschool families via county contacts or local co-ops. 

   – Announce in local media (e.g., Daily Courier, Signals AZ—they’ve covered past Prescott contests). 

   – Invite audiences (especially younger students) to watch the local contest—exposure often recruits for next year.

6. **Personal Invitations and Peer Recruitment** 

   – Have teachers, coaches, or current participants personally invite strong students (e.g., good writers, confident speakers, debate team members). 

   – Use student-led outreach: Successful competitors recruit friends by sharing how it boosted confidence/resumes.

7. **Timing and Logistics Tips** 

   – Start promotion early (November/December for contests often in Jan/Feb). 

   – Make entry easy: Provide clear rules/eligibility from legion.org, application forms, and contact (e.g., Post 6 or AZ Department). 

   – Offer support like speech coaching resources or practice sessions to lower barriers.

These methods have worked nationally (e.g., visiting all school types, using flyers, building interest via showcases) and locally (Prescott contests draw from area high schools with winners advancing). Focus on the contest’s empowering aspects—it’s not just competition; it’s skill-building with real rewards. For the latest 2026 details/deadlines in AZ, check azlegion.org, legion.org/oratorical, or contact American Legion Post 6 in Prescott directly. Good luck—strong recruitment can lead to more participants and bigger impact!