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Dear Student,

Check out our student poster contest winner and the latest member resources below!

Want to Win an $18,000 Scholarship?

The American Legion Oratorical program presents participants with an academic speaking challenge that develops deeper knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and the responsibilities, rights, and privileges of American citizenship. Competition progresses through local community, regional, and state levels, culminating in a national contest every April, where American Legion Oratorical winners certified from each state vie for the top championship title and an $18,000 scholarship. Each certified state winner participating in the national contest receives a $1,500 scholarship, with those advancing to the second round receiving an additional $1,500 scholarship. For more information about The American Legion Oratorical program in your state, click here.

National Speech and Debate Education Day Team Captains

On March 1, we celebrate National Speech and Debate Education Day and the life-changing skills you and millions of other students have learned from this activity. Preparations are already underway for this year and we're looking for NSDE Day team captains! Sign up to be a captain for your school and receive our toolkit and free resources to help plan how your team will celebrate on March 1!

Other Ways to Get Involved

Display the Winning Student Poster » Check out the new National Speech and Debate Education Day poster from contest winner Uzo Ngwu from Apple Valley High School in Minnesota! Click here to visit our site and download the poster. Then get ready to spread the word about speech and debate at your school!

How to Thank Your Coach » Has your coach made a difference in your life? We want to help you thank them! Schedule a special thank you message to appear in their inbox on National Speech and Debate Education Day. It only takes a minute and will let them know they are appreciated.

Resource Roundup

Extemp » Don't miss the latest Extemp resources! You can access ten new practice questions for both USX and IX. Resource Package subscribers can also download advanced questions and resources from Extemp Genie! The new IX set focuses on Saudi Arabia, Reform and Rights and the USX set focuses on Domestic Divide.

Congress » Check out the December Legislation Docket from the Institute for Speech and Debate. The docket includes bills to regulate cryptocurrencies, save the bee population, grant Japan military independence, and more!

Policy Topic Webinar Policy » Sarah Pierce, Policy Analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, discusses the 2019 Policy topic, Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce its restrictions on legal immigration to the United States. This webinar is presented in partnership with the Bill of Rights Institute. Watch now »

Public Forum Topic Webinar » Dr. Ron Nate, Senior Fellow & Board Member at the Madison Liberty Institute, discusses the Nov/Dec 2018 PF topic, Resolved: The United States federal government should impose price controls on the pharmaceutical industry. This webinar is presented in partnership with the Bill of Rights Institute. Watch now »

Want to access even more resources? With the Resource Package, you can access 2018 National Tournament final round videos, the Interp script titles database, and more! If your school doesn't have the Team Resource Package, you can purchase the Individual Resource Package to gain access for yourself. This would make a great holiday gift! Learn more »

Alumna on Communication, Adaptation, and Inclusion

Jordyn Zimmerman ('16) was one of the first students to compete at the National Tournament using assistive technology. Now a college junior, she travels to conferences across the country to speak to educators about holding high expectations, presuming competence, and creating a culture of acceptance. She shares her story in the latest issue of Rostrum magazine, excerpted below.

"As a non-speaking student with autism, speech and debate required me to fight with everything I had. Initially, I would violently rock back and forth during the rounds, unable to make eye contact or simultaneously gesture while holding my iPad. Through continued practice, I was able to turn these weaknesses into some of my greatest strengths.

Now, as a national presenter at conferences, speech and debate definitely contributes to my composure, poise, assessment of the audience, and ability to function well under pressure."

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