Students can enter speaking contests to pay for an online education

Students can enter speaking contests to pay for an online education

High school seniors who plan to enroll in on-campus or online universities next fall may consider entering scholarship competitions, such as the one offered by the American Legion.

The organization has opened its annual National High School Oratorical Contest, which allows students to compete for scholarships, the Winfield Daily Courier reports.

Graduating seniors under the age of 20 years are eligible to enter the competition, which requires contestants to prepare an eight to 10-minute speech on the U.S. Constitution and the obligations of citizens to the government, according to the American Legion website.

This year, speakers are required to address one of four specific parts of the Constitution - Article 4 Section 3 Paragraph 1, Article 5, Amendment 5 or Amendment 6 - in their presentations.

Before they can reach the national competition, students must win local, district and state contests. Only one student from each high school may advance to the district-level competitions.

At the national competition, American Legion officials will select first, second and third place awardees to receive $18,000, $16,000 and $14,000 scholarships, respectively. The winners may use their awards at a campus-based or online college of their choice.