Lucy Foy has achieved an extraordinary academic and civic milestone by winning her third consecutive American Legion Oratorical Contest, securing her place in the Virginia State Championship. The most recent competition was held in Salem, Virginia, at American Legion Post 3, where Lucy faced formidable competition from fellow regional champions across Western Virginia.
This contest determined the representative who would advance to the Virginia State Oratorical Competition, where only three students statewide—representing Western, Eastern, and Northern Virginia—will compete. By virtue of her victory, Lucy will represent Western Virginia as she advances to the state championship, scheduled for February 27 through March 1 in Portsmouth, Virginia. According to American Legion leaders, Lucy is the first student from Region 8 to win the Western title and advance to the state championship.
At stake in the state competition is a coveted opportunity: an all-expenses-paid trip to the American Legion National Oratorical Finals and the chance to compete for a scholarship valued at $25,000.
During the Western Virginia competition, Lucy delivered her prepared oration entitled “A Constitutional Roadmap.” Following the completion of prepared speeches, contestants participated in the assigned topic portion of the contest. In full view of the audience, a topic was drawn at random, and Lucy was assigned Article IV, Section 4 of the United States Constitution, which states:
“The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.”
Contestants are given approximately five minutes to prepare their assigned topic discourse. The speech must be no less than three minutes and no more than five minutes in length. This portion of the contest is designed to evaluate a student’s depth of constitutional knowledge, quality of research, and ability to connect constitutional principles to the foundational structure of American government.
Since 1938, the American Legion National Oratorical Contest has provided students with a rigorous platform to deepen their understanding of the U.S. Constitution, refine their public speaking abilities, and develop leadership skills—all while competing for significant scholarship opportunities.
Lucy Foy’s continued success reflects not only her exceptional academic preparation and poise under pressure, but also her deep understanding of constitutional principles and civic responsibility. Her advancement to the state level is a point of pride for Western Virginia, and she now stands one step away from the national stage.
The entire school community wishes Lucy the very best as she competes in Portsmouth and represents Western Virginia with distinction.