SHS Junior Places Third in State Oratory Contest
- Gabriella Bassi-Belanger
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
In 1938, the American Legion held its first nationwide oratorical contest to provide high school students an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the U.S Constitution while earning scholarships for college. Today, 88 years later, high school students from Southington and the rest of the country still participate in this constitutional speech contest.
Candace Patten, SHS Social Studies Assistant Department Leader, has overseen Southington High School’s involvement with the program for the last three years. She recently sat down with the Southington Outsider to describe what the contest entails and how SHS junior Devon Jasulavic made it to the State Championship this year.
The Contest Rules
According to Patten, the contest has four levels: local, regional, state, and national. At each level the competition has the same format, with students competing against each other in two speaking rounds. In the first, they deliver a prepared eight to ten minute-long oration about the U.S Constitution. The speeches can be on any theme as long as it relates to the Constitution, and must be memorized.
“They can make their own theme. It can be opinion-based or analytical,” Patten explained, “but they can’t use any notes during the speech.” To further add to the challenge, students are penalized if their speeches are under eight or over ten minutes.
After the first speeches are delivered, students move on to the second round of the day. At this stage, an assigned topic is drawn at random, and the students have five minutes to write a three to five minute-long speech on the assigned topic. Every September, the American Legion announces four topics for the contest year to allow students time to prepare ahead of the competition.
Patten emphasized the difficulty of this round. “I think the second part is the hardest because you don’t know which topic you’re going to get, so you have to have information on all four.” As with the first round, students are not allowed to utilize any notes or materials while they deliver their final speech and are penalized if they go over or under the allotted time.
For each contest level, there are five judges typically composed of former teachers, superintendents, board of education members, and Legion members. To promote impartiality, each judge sits and delivers their decision independently, without discussion. While the certified first-place winner advances to the next level, scholarships are awarded to the top three finalists. For the state championship, Patten said, first place receives $1,800, second gets $1,600, and third takes $1,400.
Jasulavic at the States
This year, Southington High School student Devon Jasulavic competed at the State Championship on March 7, finishing in third place. This was Jasulavic’s third year competing; students are eligible to continue participating as long as they do not win the National level.
Patten and fellow social studies teacher, Evan Tuttle, collaborated to help Devon succeed this year: “I told him which four topics were selected for the competition. In Devon’s AP Politics and Government class he focused on those amendments with the students.”
Patten also offered time after school for students to practice with her, ask questions, and learn more about the selected topics.
According to Jasulavic, “Ms. Patten introduced me to the competition and has supported me from the beginning. Mrs. Tran fostered my love for history and government. Mr. Tuttle has expanded my knowledge of American government and grown my interest in politics, as well as supporting me during this past year’s competition.” Along with his teachers, he also credits the Southington American Legion members for their encouragement and support.
This year, Devon’s first speech, titled “The Bill of Rights in Our Lives,” focused on the importance of the 1st and 4th amendments. His second speech was on Article 4, Section 4 which states, “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.”
Though Devon’s journey this year ended at the State contest, he shared that he is already planning to participate next year: “It is because of my incredible social studies teachers each year of high school that I have participated and been able to represent Southington at the state level. I plan to participate next year.”
On average, about ten students sign up each year from Southington High School. This year, only four out of the 12 students who signed up participated due to the snow.
The National Finals will be held May 15-17, 2026, at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, where the State Championship winners will compete.
