Tyler Paul Carries Indiana’s Voice to National Oratorical Stage

The Indiana American Legion Foundation celebrates youth leadership, constitutional knowledge, and the next generation of civic voices

This weekend, Indiana will be represented on the national stage as Tyler Paul, a freshman at Central Noble Jr./Sr. High School in Albion and a resident of Kendallville, Indiana, competes in The American Legion National Oratorical Contest at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan.

After winning the Department of Indiana Oratorical Contest, Paul earned a $3,000 scholarship and the opportunity to advance to the national competition, where students from across the country will compete for more than $203,000 in scholarships while presenting prepared orations on the U.S. Constitution and assigned topic speeches focused on specific constitutional articles and sections.

For Paul, the journey began with encouragement from family.

“I’ve been doing speaking contests for a few years and have been a Sons of the American Legion member for about five years now, and my grandpa actually was the one to introduce it to me,” he said. “He does a little poking around with a lot of the scholarship stuff and always lets me and my brother know about them.”

Although he first learned about the contest as an eighth grader, he had to wait until his freshman year to be eligible. Once the opportunity arrived, he embraced the challenge.

His prepared oration focused on the Constitution and the role of government, a topic he said felt especially relevant today. The contest requires students to deliver an eight- to 10-minute prepared speech, followed by a three- to five-minute speech on an assigned topic. For Paul, the experience pushed him beyond memorization. It required research, reflection, and the ability to form a clear argument under pressure.

The assigned topic portion, he said, was one of the more challenging parts because it required him to quickly organize his thoughts and speak with confidence.

But the contest also gave him something deeper: a renewed appreciation for the flag, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the meaning behind the words many students say each day.

“You pledge allegiance to the flag and the country and everything that stands for,” he said.

He described learning more about the symbolism of the flag, including the meaning behind the stars, stripes, and colors, and how that understanding changed the way he views patriotism. What once may have felt routine now carries greater meaning.

That is the purpose behind The American Legion's Oratorical Contest. It is more than a speech competition; it is a youth leadership program designed to help students understand the rights, responsibilities, and principles of American citizenship.

It is also an investment in their future.

Paul said the $3,000 scholarship he received as the Department of Indiana winner will help open doors as he considers college and career opportunities. He is currently interested in pursuing agribusiness, with Purdue University among the options he is considering.

As a freshman competing at the national level, he recognizes the magnitude of the moment.

“It’s really an honor for me,” he said. “This goes to show how incredible the people are who helped me get here, and I couldn’t do it by myself.”

The Indiana American Legion Foundation is proud to support programs that develop leadership, citizenship, and public speaking skills in young Hoosiers. Through programs like the Oratorical Contest, students are challenged to think critically, speak confidently, and understand the constitutional principles that shape our nation.

For donors and supporters of the Foundation, Paul’s story is a reminder that these programs do more than award scholarships. They build confidence. They encourage civic responsibility. They help prepare the next generation to lead.

When asked what he would say to those who make opportunities like this possible, his answer was simple.

“Thank you,” he said. “Not just for myself, but on behalf of everybody that gets the chance to compete with it and everybody that gets a chance to really understand what all this means.”

As he heads to Hillsdale to represent Indiana, Paul carries with him the support of his family, his school, his community, and The American Legion Family.