Eligible participants include any student under the age of 20 years on the date of the national contest who is presently enrolled in a high school or junior high school (public, parochial, military, private or home school). Students must be enrolled in high school or junior high school during the time of participation at any level of The American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest. Contestants can enter competition through only one department. High school students that graduate early during the school year are eligible to compete if they are not enrolled in a college, university, trade school or other institution of higher learning at the time of the department finals contest. The three finalists of the national contest are ineligible for further participation at any level. Assigned Topics for the oratorical contest can be accessed on the website. Applicants need to contact the department for the deadline. Nomination form can be downloaded from the site.