Speech Contest

America’s Freedom Festival Speech Contest invites all students grades 9th-12th to share their thoughts and speak up for freedom. Theme for 2026-2027: “We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident”.

Details

Event Sponsors

Speech Contest Details

Students submit a video of themselves presenting a memorized 5 minute special occasion oratory and upload it to YouTube and submit the link for judging by March 1. Multiple finalists will be chosen to present their speeches and compete for monetary prizes. The first place winner will have the opportunity to speak at the Patriotic Service BYU’s Marriot Center June 27, 2027.

Please see grading rubric to see how your speech will be scored and other important details.

This year’s theme “We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident” focuses on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the ideals that shape our nation.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: January 1 – March 1

All submissions must support the primary values of: God, Family, Freedom, and Country

Resource Helps

Resource Helps:

Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and the Constitution
America 250 Utah (K-12 lesson plans)
National Constitution Center
Bill of Rights Institute
Center for Civic Education
Center for Constitutional Studies, Utah Valley University: constitution@uvu.edu

Awards & Prizes

1st place up to $1,000. Additional awards with monetary prizes for 2nd-4th and honorable mentions.

Contest Rules

Submission Deadlines: January 1- March 1 (no entries will be accepted after midnight March 1)
Theme: “We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident” All submissions must support the primary values of: God, Family, Freedom, and Country
All current 9th – 12th grade high school students (public, homeschool, charter, private etc) are eligible to compete.
You may create a visual background, pictures, soundtrack to enchance your speech entry, but it is not required. Check all copyrights.
Speech must be your own work. Use of AI is prohibited.
Time limit is 5 minutes (penalty if speech is too short or too long).
Entire speech must be memorized to avoid automatic disqualification.
The speech should be positive and hopeful, expressing ideas on how to build America and patriotism, while discussing sound principles of freedom.
Professional dress is requested for presentation.
Decision of the judges is final.
The 1st place winner chosen must be able to attend and speak at the Patriotic Service live on June 27 at the Marriot Center in Provo, UT. If chosen and not able to attend, the first place spot will be relenquished and awarded to another.

How to Submit

Instructions:

Go to http://www.youtube.com/
In the upper right hand corner of the home page click on “sign in”.
If you have a google account you can login with that and go to the next step. If you don’t have a google login then click on “sign up for YouTube” and then fill out the necessary info.
Once you’re logged in click on the link at the top of the screen that says “upload”.
Click on the button that says “video upload” and then upload your video.

Make sure to fill out the Title and Description fields appropriately.
In the privacy section be sure to check the “Public” option.
Click on the save button at the bottom of the screen.
You may have to wait a while for your video to upload, after your video is done precessing go to your published video page.
Copy the url link and paste it in the filed on the submission form.