WATERVILLE — High school students in grades nine to 12, of public schools, private schools, parochial schools and home-schooled, are invited to compete in the 2012 American Legion National High School Oratorical Scholarship Program, a constitutional speech contest.

Students will compete in a local Legion post contest and the winner will compete in that area’s district contest. The district winner will advance to the state finals. The department winner will represent Maine in the national contest in Indianapolis in April, with the national organization funding round-trip tickets, two nights at a hotel and daily allowances for both the contestant and a chaperon over 21 years of age.

The primary purpose of the contest is to instill in students a better knowledge and appreciation of the United States Constitution.

Students who compete in the contests have the opportunity to receive money awards toward their future school endeavors. Local Legion post awards will be determined by the individual posts, and the district awards by the various districts. At the state level, awards range from $150 to $1,000. At the national level, awards range from $1,500 to $18,000.

The two portions of the contest include prepared oration and assigned topic discourse. The subject in the oration must be about some phase of the Constitution of the U.S., emphasizing the duties and obligations of a citizen to the U.S. government. This portion shall be between eight and 10 minutes in length.

Post contest dates and times are designated by the individual posts but must be held before its district contest in January. The state contest will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, in the Thomas College auditorium.

For more information, contact a local post or the American Legion department headquarters at 873-3229, visit www.mainelegion.org or email Department Chairman Ramona Naragon at [email protected].