GULF SHORES, Ala. — Two local high school students delivered speeches on the U.S. Constitution to judges at the American Legion Post 44 on Feb. 21 to become the District champion and candidate to continue the scholarship quest in the 71st annual National American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program.

The first place winner was Mobile County contestant Lindsey Paige Estes, a sophomore at Baker High School.

Runner up was Baldwin County contestant Brett Hudson, a junior at Gulf Shores High School. Both students had won their respective county level competitions the previous week.

Gulf Shores American Legion Post 44 conducted the District competition, led by District Chairman and Baldwin County American Legion Cmdr. Wayne Stacey.

The judges for the competition were Baldwin County Circuit Court Judge Jody Bishop, Gulf Shores City Councilman Steve Jones, and interested citizens Barry Hughes, Judy Watley and Bob Tidwell.

Competing students delivered an eight to 10 minute speech about the U.S. Constitution that they prepared and practiced prior to the event.

They also delivered a three to five minute speech on an assigned topic with five minutes of preparation time. All speeches were delivered without notes, props or lecterns.

The contest is conducted annually by the American Legion, beginning at the local post and ending with a national winner and an $18,000 scholarship.

Students are awarded various scholarships at the different levels of competition.

The American Legion is the largest veteran’s organization in the United States. Members are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces that served during wartime.