Battle of Brooklyn Chapter Sons of the American Revolution
Contest Information
The Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest is open to all students attending 9th through 12th grades in public, parochial or private schools; or home-school students studying at the same grade levels. The preliminary rounds of the contest begin at the local chapter level; students have the opportunity to advance to the state or national levels where scholarships and cash prizes are awarded. It is our intent that the contest will continue to expand on all levels and bring the voices of our young patriots to greater light across our entire nation.
Oration Requirements:
- Write an original oration of not less than five minutes and not more than six minutes
- Delivered from memory and without notes or props
- Subject must focus on:
- An event, a personality, or a document pertaining to the Revolutionary War
- A mention of our nation’s 250th anniversary celebration
- Each oration must:
- Show the relationship it bears to America today
- Demonstrate historical research
- Present information with creativity
Judging Criteria:
- Composition
- Delivery
- Significance
- Historical accuracy
- Relevance to the 250th anniversary
Contest Awards:
Chapter Level
- First Place: $100
- Second Place: $50
- Third Place: $25
State Award
- First Place: $800
- Second Place: $500
- Third Place: $300
National Award
- National First Place Winner: $8,000 + Olympic-sized medal
- National 2nd Place Runner-up: $5,000 + Olympic-sized medal
- National 3rd Place Runner-up: $3,000 + Olympic-sized medal
- Three non-placing finalists: $500 each
- All other non-finalist national contestants: $200 each
More Information
An informational flyer and the contest forms can be found below. Please be aware that the local and state application deadline dates may vary, so interested applicants should reach out to their local SAR chapter for further details.
To get started, download the contest package and reach out to our Chapter Coordinator for details and support.
Contact: Gary Lane
Email: GaryLaneSAR@gmail.com