Persistence Pays for State Oratorical Champion in Brussels

Miles Grussing claimed victory in this year’s highly competitive American Legion Oratorical Contest, sponsored by the Department of France. Since 1938, the Legion has organized the contest to encourage high school students to deepen their understanding of the U.S. Constitution. Contestants must write and deliver an 8-to-10-minute speech on an aspect of the Constitution, followed by a 3- to 5-minute speech on one of four randomly assigned topics, with the specific topic revealed only at the competition.

Miles first participated in the contest as a freshman, shortly after joining Brussels American School (now Brussels Unit School). Eager to get involved and driven by his passion for history and government, he surprised everyone by winning the local level and advancing to the state competition, though he did not place there.

Undeterred by his previous setback, Miles returned for his sophomore year but faced tough competition at the local level and did not advance. However, his persistence paid off during his junior year when he not only won his local competition but also triumphed at the state level. Now, Miles will compete at the National Finals in Michigan, facing off against state winners from across the U.S., as well as competitors from Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. The competition will be fierce. In fact, previous national champions including former Vice President Mike Pence and talk radio host Lou Dobbs.

Miles is thrilled about advancing to the Nationals, and he credits his success to the unwavering support of his dedicated teachers at Brussels and the confidence he gained through his independent travels across Belgium. Regardless of the outcome at Nationals, Miles remains optimistic, knowing that if he doesn’t win this year, he can always try again next year.