Education

Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest

The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) invites all high school students (9th through 12th grades) interested in the American Revolution to participate in the Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest. The contest is open to all students attending public, parochial, private or home school students in that same grade range. The preliminary rounds of the contest begin at the local level, students may potentially advance to the state or national levels where scholarships and cash prizes are awarded.

Each student’s five-to-six-minute speech (and accompanying manuscript) will be judged based upon its composition, delivery, significance, and historical accuracy and relevance. Three cash awards are given: the National First Place Winner receives $6,000; the 2nd Place Runner-up receives $4,000; and the 3rd Place Runner-up receives $2,000 cash prize. Each also receives an Olympic-sized medal. All other finalists (4th through 6th Place runners-up) are awarded $500 and all other national contestants are awarded $200. An informational flyer and the contest forms can be found below. Please be aware that the local and state application deadline dates may vary, so interested applicants should reach out to their local SAR chapter for further details.

Primary Contact for All Entries:
Mr. John H. "Jack" Bredenfoerder
NSSAR Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Chairman
8751 Haverhill Lane
Cincinnati, Ohio 45236
jack.b@fuse.net

Contest Information Flyer 

Contest Forms

Donate to the Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Orations Contest

Previous Winners

For forty-four years, the National Oration Contest sponsored by the SAR carried the name Douglass G. High. In 1993, the name of this oratorical contest was changed, in perpetuity to the Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest. The previous annual first place winners are: