2026 10th District American Legion Oratorical Speech Contest
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Grayslake Central High School, 400 N Lake St, Grayslake, IL 60030
Starting at 8:00 AM until complete
****FOR A COPY OF THE CONTEST APPLICATION, PLEASE EMAIL PAUL AHERN <ahernpt>****
Please download link for distribution to students (1) the Department of Illinois Oratorical Program Brochure 2026,
https://www.illegion.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Oratorical-Brochure-2026-updated-10_04_2025.pdf
(which Indicates the potential assigned (aka on-the-spot at-the contest) Constitutional Topics, as well as really highlights the critical contest participation and administration details, as well as (2) the 2026 American Legion Oratorical Contest application form (attached) (in Adobe pdf format).
Teacher or Department Chairs / Sponsors of Constitutional Learning and Speech & Debate Coaches, Lake County Illinois High Schools
The American Legion 10th District will hold its subject contest at:
Grayslake Central High School (Theater)
400 N. Lake Street Located on Lake Street north of Center Street and South of the railroad tracks
Grayslake, IL 60030 at the intersection of Lake Street and Hillside Ave.
10th District, of the Illinois American Legion is hosting the contest on Saturday January 10, 2026, from 8:30 AM until complete estimated as no later than 2:00 PM including awards. The contest starts at 8:30 AM with the first contestant giving their prepared speech at that time.
Students shall arrive so to be available promptly at 8:00 AM for the contest chairman to orient them to the contest venue and brief them on the program/contest rules. The Department of Illinois brochure on the program including the possible (4) assigned speech topics and rules are attached.
Please advise your local high school Teacher /Sponsors and participating Student competitors that they are not allowed the use of any notes in hand, in either paper or electronic form, while delivering their speeches at the contest. However, Students may bring notes to the contest venue, for their use in the prep/holding room, before they depart that room to present their prepared speech and their assigned topic speech.
Students wanting to compete at the 10th District Contest on January 10th, 2026, should give you their information (name, email, Hometown and High School Name and Grade and intent to compete. The School Sponsors need to get that student competitor information to your Sponsoring American Legion Post Representative (for D127 & other Grayslake High Schools (or Home-schooled HS-level students that is Paul Ahern – see below) by Noon on Thursday 12/4/2025.
Also attached is the application form needed to compete at the State Level of the Oratorical Speech program. Students who desire to compete at that level and are selected as moving forward at the district-level, shall have to complete that form including the student portion, parent portion, and post sponsorship portion (including SIGNATURES) upon arriving at the 2nd Division competition. It is highly recommended that each student have the form prepared for our courtesy review to ensure completeness by the 10th District competition on 01/10/2026.
No (Legion Post) Sponsorship check ($175) is required to go forward with a given student’s application until the student is selected to move on to the Department (State) Level Competition from the American Legion 10th District competition and the (next level) 2nd Division competition.
The Second Division Competition is anticipated to be held on Sunday January 18, 2026 at a location in the western Chicago suburbs to be announced in the near future. The 2nd Division contestants will compete, from approximately 9:00 a,m, (first student's prepared speech) until complete which is expected to be no later than 5:00 p.m. including awards.
The Department/State level Oratorical competition is a one-day competition on Saturday March 7th, 2025 at Heartland Community College in Normal, IL. the Department Oratorical contest will start in the morning (Exact time TBA) and be conducted as two rounds - Semi Finals and Finals. Semi Finals are anticipated to conclude at about noon with lunch and the Finals conclude by about 5:00 PM including presentation of awards.
Very respectfully yours,
Paul Ahern, Americanism Chairman
10th District, American Legion, Illinois
(c) 224-627-5490,
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Also check out other Contests in Grayslake, Arts events in Grayslake, Theatre events in Grayslake.
