Sumter High School Speech and Debate Team celebrates Constitution Day

On Thursday, Sept. 17, the Sumter High School Speech and Debate Team celebrated the 239th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution by handing out free pocket-sized Constitutions to students and staff. Alongside the pocket Constitutions, team members distributed informational flyers for the upcoming American Legion Oratorical Contest.

The American Legion Oratorical Contest provides an opportunity for high school students to develop a deeper knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, sharpen their public speaking skills and compete for academic scholarships. The contest requires participants to deliver a prepared oration on an aspect of the Constitution as well as an assigned topic discourse on constitutional articles and amendments. Top finishers can earn significant academic scholarships, with national prizes reaching up to $25,000.

"Constitution Day is the perfect occasion to reflect on our nation's founding principles and inspire the next generation of thinkers and speakers to find their voices," said Joshua Miller, Speech and Debate advisor at Sumter High School. "The American Legion contest perfectly aligns with our team's mission to develop informed, well-spoken and civic-minded citizens. We encourage all students to take advantage of this incredible opportunity to showcase their talents and earn college scholarships."

Students interested in participating in the American Legion Oratorical Contest are encouraged to contact Philip Good, Americanism chairman of American Legion Post 15, at philip.r.good@gmail.com.

About Sumter High School Speech and Debate

Sumter High School Speech and Debate Team provides students with opportunities to develop communication, critical thinking, research, argumentation and leadership skills through competitive speech and debate. The team competes at tournaments throughout South Carolina and is committed to giving students meaningful opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.

Sumter High School Speech and Debate Team is an active chapter of the National Speech and Debate Association, dedicated to fostering excellence in leadership, public speaking and civic engagement through competitive speech and debate. Originally active from 1993 until 2001, the team was recently relaunched in 2025 and is once again providing students with the opportunity to engage in rigorous dialogue and competition.