The Pennsylvania American Legion is taking entries for its annual essay contest. Winners will receive $3,500, $3,000, or $2,500 scholarships for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
The contest is open to students in two categories: grades 6-8 and 9-12. Students can be from public, private, parochial, cyber, charter, or home schooled.
Students must submit their essay by mail or hand delivery to their local American Legion post by Jan 8, 2025 for those in grades 9-12 and February 5th for those in grades 6-8. Complete rules and regulations are available at here.
The Legion also hosts an oratorical contest with scholarships offering $7,500, $5,000, and $4,000 for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. That contest is only open to those in grades 9-12.
American Legion National Oratorical Contest
May 15, 2026
The American Legion National Oratorical Contest, a high school speech contest on the U.S. Constitution, awards $203,500 in scholarships each year at the national contest. The contest is held in Hillsdale, Mich., on the campus of Hillsdale College, May 15-17, 2026. The contestants will present a rehearsed eight- to 10-minute oration on an aspect of the Constitution in front of judges, as well as a three- to five-minute speech on an assigned topic discourse — a phase of the Constitution selected from its Articles and Sections. Learn more here
Consider the money you raise going back to ALA mission
American Legion Auxiliary members are passionate about supporting worthwhile causes. After all, in the ALA, they’re part of an organization that last year provided more than $227 million in volunteer and financial assistance to efforts ranging from help for veterans to scholarships for students.
But what types of community programs and organizations are appropriate for members to support through their ALA units? The answer is simple, according to Carley Schutz, Development Division director at ALA National Headquarters.
ALA units should consider targeting their financial support to causes that assist veterans, military, and their families.
A broad range of charitable organizations — funding causes from cancer research to animal shelters — can be good choices for ALA members to support on their own. But when it comes to the assistance they offer through their ALA units, Schutz said that sticking to the Auxiliary mission is best.
That means units are encouraged to target their efforts to align with the following American Legion Auxiliary areas in support of veterans, military, and their families:
• Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation
• National Security
• Americanism
• Children & Youth
“In the capacity of an ALA member, our number one priority is serving veterans and military families,” Schutz said. “Why join a membership organization that is solely focused on bettering the lives of veterans, military, and their families if that’s not what you’re passionate about?”
Questions to Ask
Before lending support to a cause, ALA units should make sure they can answer “yes” to the following four questions:
1. Does the service, fund, or program benefit veterans, military, or military families?
2. Does the organization’s focus align with the ALA’s mission to enhance the lives of veterans, military, and their families?
3. Is the organization in good standing with the IRS?
4. Would a prospective ALA member understand — without explanation — why the group is supporting this other organization as part of an effort to help veterans?
With that last question in mind, Schutz cautioned that when ALA units give to other veterans service organizations, it can be confusing for those who are thinking about becoming members of the Auxiliary. These prospective members sometimes are unclear about which group they’re joining.
None of this is to say there aren’t occasions when it’s OK to deviate a bit from these guidelines. During times of crisis — such as a natural disaster affecting an ALA unit’s community — there could be relief causes that are appropriate to support. The first choice for ALA units to support disaster recovery, however, is the ALA and its Auxiliary Emergency Fund.
Ideas for Giving
A variety of efforts qualifies as appropriate for ALA support. Schutz offered the following ideas that help veterans, military, and military families:
• Contribute to a fund to enhance the quality of life for items such as wheelchair bicycles, beach wheelchairs, and accessible vans and other vehicles for families.
• Furnishing a housing facility for veterans and their families, supplying items such as beds, dressers, and kitchen appliances.
• Purchasing creative art therapy supplies — like paint, easels, pottery, leatherwork, kilns, and instruments — for a local U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facility.
• Sponsoring any ALA Girls State initiative, such as participant attendance, travel, insurance, and housing.
This targeted support on behalf of the ALA shouldn’t diminish members’ support for other organizations or their willingness to offer those groups their own time and money.
“Having other passions is wonderful, and our members are so caring that I’m sure they have a variety of causes they would like to support,” Schutz said. “However, take your ALA hat off and put your other servant hat on. Let the two passions be separate.”
Should you give them your money?
Great Idea To: • Provide ALA support to causes that benefit veterans, military, and their families.
• Ensure the answer is “yes” to four key questions about the cause’s mission and IRS status.
•Continue personal/individual support of causes not aligned with the ALA’s mission.
Reconsider If: • The program or cause isn’t aligned with areas in support of veterans, military, or their families.
• You haven’t fully researched the program or organization and its relevance to the ALA’s work.
•It dedicates your unit’s money to nonaligned, personal interests.
About the Riders
American Legion Riders chapters are well known for their charitable work, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local children's hospitals, schools, veterans homes, severely wounded servicemembers and scholarships. Since 2006, Riders nationwide have participated in The American Legion Legacy Run to annually raise money for the Legacy Scholarship Fund, established to provide scholarships to children of U.S. military personnel killed since Sept. 11, 2001.
Fueled by Community Spirit
For 18 years, the American Legion Riders have journeyed across the nation, rallying communities to their cause. The sight of flag-waving supporters lining streets and overpasses—cheering as our riders pass by—continues to fuel this mission.
Since its inception in 2006, The American Legion Legacy Run has raised $16 million dollars for The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund. These funds have provided over $6.2 million dollars in scholarships to support the higher education of children who lost a parent in active military service on or after September 11, 2001, or whose post-9/11 parent has a VA disability rating of 50% or higher.
Thanks to the enduring success of the Legacy Scholarship Fund—now self-sustaining for the foreseeable future—the Legacy Run expanded its mission in 2024 to begin fundraising for The American Legion Veterans & Children Foundation (VCF). This new chapter ensures we continue addressing the evolving needs of veterans and military families.
None of it would be possible without the unwavering support of local Legion posts, businesses, city officials, and law enforcement.
Baseball, Boys State / Nation, Junior Shooting Sports, Oratorical Contest, Scouting, Youth Cadet Law
American Legion Legacy Scholarship Applications Due
The Legacy Scholarship is for the child of a parent who lost their lives while honorably serving on active military duty on or after 9/11, or the child of a post-9/11 veteran with a combined Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating of 50% or higher. It is a needs-based scholarship designed to fulfill a financial gap remaining after all federal and state educational grants/scholarships to an eligible applicant have been utilized.
The 2026-2027 tuition is capped at $29,920.95, which is the maximum amount the VA will pay out per academic year.
The scholarship is awarded for undergraduate study, graduate study and trade schools at an accredited institution of higher education. The Legacy Scholarship provides up to $20,000 for children of the fallen, and up to $5,000 for children of the disabled for higher learning. Recipients will have a year to use the grant and may reapply to The American Legion Legacy Scholarship up to six times.
Children of Warriors National Presidents' Scholarship
Honoring the sacrifices of our servicemembers who defend our freedom is essential — but it shouldn’t stop there. We must also recognize the strength and sacrifices of their children.
The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors the Children of Warriors National Presidents' Scholarship to support the children of our nation's heroes. These scholarships are awarded to 15 students annually who excel in academics and volunteer in their communities.
The application deadline for the Children of Warriors National Presidents' Scholarship is March 1, 2026.
You can talk your way through college if you’re a winner in the American Legion National High School Oratorical contest.
The Oratorical contest was developed primarily to instill a better knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States in high school students. Other objectives include the development of leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly, and the preparation for acceptance of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship.
Another purpose of the program is to assist students in paying the high cost of a college education. The Department of Pennsylvania American Legion awards the first place winner a $7,500 scholarship, plaque and expense paid trip to the Pennsylvania American Legion State convention to present his/her winning oration, plus the opportunity to represent Pennsylvania in the National and Regional Contests and receive an additional $1,500 scholarship from the National Organization. The second place winner receives a $5,000 scholarship and plaque and the third place winner receives a $4,000 scholarship and plaque.
The winner of the Pennsylvania Oratorical contest will move onto the National American Legion Oratorical program and will be eligible to win Young orators earn some of the most generous college scholarships available to high school students. Over $203,500 in scholarships can be awarded each year. The overall national contest winner gets a $25,000 scholarship. Second place takes home $22,500, and third gets $20,000. Each department (state) winner who is certified into and participates in the national contest’s first round receives a $2,000 scholarship. Those who advance past the first round receive an additional $2,000 scholarship. The American Legion’s National Organization awards the scholarships, which can be used at any college or university in the United States..
2024 National Oratorical Contest
The Contest
The contest will consist of two parts (A) An 8 – 10 minute, memorized oration will be given on some phase of the United States Constitution. (B) A 3 – 5 minute oration on one of the four “assigned topics” assigned by National Headquarters.
The contestant may not use any notes or prompts when giving their oration. A minimum of five (5) judges will judge all contests, grading independently. Local and county contest can be judged by a minimum of three (3) judges.
The tabulators will tabulate all scores of the judges and apply any penalties as directed by the Chairman of the contest. The Chairman will verify the result and announce the winners.
PA Legion Notices Receive Email Notices From The Department
Occasionally the Pennsylvania Department will send out notifications to its membership. The notifications inform members of deaths, events and important department information. When you sign up you will be able to select topics that you are interested in. Click below to add your name to the list.
ALA units should consider targeting their financial support to causes that assist veterans, military, and their families.
The Legacy Scholarship is for the child of a parent who lost their lives while honorably serving on active military duty on or after 9/11, or the child of a post-9/11 veteran with a combined Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating of 50% or higher. It is a needs-based scholarship designed to fulfill a financial gap remaining after all federal and state educational grants/scholarships to an eligible applicant have been utilized.
