By Patricia A Douglas
Post 911 Public Affairs Coordinator

The Oratorical Contest student sponsored by Ryan Winslow Post 911 walked away with a second-place prize at the Department of Alabama Oratorical Contest, receiving a check for $1,500 for her accomplishment.

Bailyn Murphy, a junior at Hoover High School, competed on March 30, 2024. Her parents are Hoover City Counselor Derrick and Shenavia Murphy. The Post 911 Family will sponsor Murphy for Girls State this summer.

For the prepared oration part of the competition, Murphy spoke on "Inspiring Freedom: When My Voice Wasn't Heard."

“We are very proud of Bailyn and her success in her first year of competition,” said Ginger Branson, master-of-ceremonies of the District 21 competition and Post 911 adjutant. “Next year, she will still be qualified to enter and will know more about the competition.”

Since 1938, the American Legion Oratorical Contest helps high school students learn about the U.S. Constitution. Each contestant gives an 8 to 10-minute prepared oration on any aspect of the Constitution without notes or a microphone. Later, each contestant has a 3 to 5-minute deadline to speak on one of five assigned topics, announced in advance of the local competitions and drawn during the competition.
The overall winner of the national competition receives a $25,000 scholarship. More than $203,500 in scholarships can be awarded each year.

Murphy won the Division 2 competition on March 2, 2024, at First Baptist Church of Pelham. She was first at the District 21 competition on February 17, 2024, at Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Hoover. She received cash prizes at each level.

For more information on the American Legion Oratorical Contest, go to www.legion.org/oratorical.