JOSEPH S. RUMBAUGH
   HISTORICAL ORATION CONTEST

In 1945 Douglass G. High, an SAR member in Cincinnati, Ohio, conceived the idea of promoting patriotism among high school students by encouraging the young adults to express their views in an original oration. The first contest was in a Cincinnati high school. Eventually, it was sponsored statewide by the Ohio SAR Society.

The National Society of the SAR, in 1948, assumed national sponsorship with Compatriot High as the national chairman. In 1953, as a memorial, the contest was named after him and carried his name for the next forty years.

In 1993, in recognition of the generosity and interest of a Florida Society SAR member the name was changed in perpetuity to: JOSEPH S. RUMBAUGH HISTORICAL ORATION CONTEST.

The SAR promotes patriotism among high school students by encouraging the young adults to express their views in an original oration.  High school students in their freshman, sophomore, junior and senior year (Grades 9 - 12) of study during the 2011-20012 school year are invited to enter the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest.  This contest is sponsored by the Western Reserve Society Sons of the American Revolution and is open to students attending public, parochial, private, or accredited home schools in Cuyahoga County. 

The contest provides an opportunity for the student to be creative in composing an oration and to present it from memory without the use of notes or props.

The oration must be original and cannot be less than five minutes nor more than six minutes. The content must deal with an event, a personality, or a document pertaining to the Revolutionary War and show a relationship to today's America. The title is determined by the orator.

Prizes will be awarded on National, State, and local levels:

National Society

First place: $3,000, a Gold Olympic style medal and winning recognition certificate,

                   One night hotel for two at the NSSAR 122nd Annual Congress,

                    Phoenix, AZ, July 7-11, 2012

                    Publication of oration on the National SAR Web Page and The SAR Magazine

 

Second Place: $2,000, and a Silver Olympic style medal and a recognition certificate

 

Third Place: $1000, and a Bronze Olympic style medal and a recognition certificate

 

The National winner is expected to attend the Youth Awards Luncheon the day after the final competition.

Ohio Society (State)

First Place:  $300, a recognition certificate, one night hotel for two if needed at the Annual State Conference, Lima, OH, April 29, 2012

 

Second Place:  $200, and a recognition certificate

 

Third Place:  $100, and a recognition certificate

 

The winner of the State or district contest may receive expenses toward their trip to compete in the national contest.  

Western Reserve Society (Local)

First Place:  $100, and a recognition certificate to be awarded at April meeting

 

Second Place:  $50, and a recognition certificate

 

Third Place:  $25, and a recognition certificate

For further information or procedure in entering the contest please contact

     Chairman, Joseph S. Rumbaugh Committee

     3008 Fontenay Road

     Shaker Heights, Ohio 44120

     E-Mail  WRSSAROH@AOL.COM for more information

 

For more information go to the National Society Sons of the American Revolution web site at:

http://www.sar.org/Youth/Oration_Contest

 

 The National Association of Secondary School Principals has placed this program on the NASSP National Advisory List of Contests and Activities for 2011-2012.

 

 

 

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