The Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest is open to all students attending 9th through 12th grades in public, parochial or private schools; or home-school students studying at the same grade levels. The preliminary rounds of the contest begin at the local chapter level; students have the opportunity to advance to the state or national levels where scholarships and cash prizes are awarded. Participants must write an original oration of not less than five minutes, or more than six minutes. The oration must be delivered from memory and without the use of notes or any kind of props. The subject of the oration shall deal with an event, a personality, or a document pertaining to the Revolutionary War with a mention of our nation's 250th anniversary celebration. It is essential that each oration show the relationship it bears to America today. Evidence of historical research and creative presentation are also important. The contest video must be of continuous feed and not edited. It should be recorded in a horizontal frame on an iPhone or Android Phone. We also suggest that you find a venue with a stage and an American 50 star flag on the left and a SAR flag on the right. No state flags or other signage should be present. Please make sure to test that the sound is clear and audible before you start recording. Please visit the award's website for more information.