Laney Andrews, a junior at Beresford High School, will compete at the National American Legion Oratorical Competition May 17-19 in Hillsdale, Michigan. This year’s National Contest will be hosted by Hillsdale College. Quarterfinal and Semifinal rounds will be held on Sat. May 18 with the finals for the top three contestants to be held on Sunday, May 19.
This is the second year Laney won the American Legion Scholarship Speech Contest in South Dakota, having won the 2024 state title in Deadwood, SD, in February. Each State Champion who participates in the National Contest’s first round receives a $2,000 scholarship. Those who advance past the first round receive an additional $2,000 scholarship. The overall national contest winner gets a $25,000 scholarship. Second place takes home $22,500, and third gets $20,000.
Each Quarter-final contest will pair six contestants from the 53 states and territories who are expected to participate in this year’s contest. At the 2024 Tournament, the Quarter-final Contest 7 will include Alabama, Oregon, New Mexico, Iowa, Puerto Rico, and South Dakota.
Speakers must focus on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with emphasis on the duties and obligations of citizens to our government, and deliver an 8-10 minute oration. In addition, the contestants draw one of four Assigned Topics based on Amendments to the Constitution. Each contestant then gives a 3–5-minute speech after only 5 minutes of preparation. All speeches must be given from memory.
Laney will travel to Michigan with her speech coach (and grandmother), Ann Tornberg.
Written by Ann Tornberg