Today's high school students were toddlers or young children during the 2008 presidential campaign and historic election of Barack Obama, the first U.S. President of African American heritage.  Current high school students may not have read much about his life, or have an in-depth understanding of the events that occurred during his tenure as President.

The Charter Committee to Celebrate President Barack Obama (Charter Committee) is sponsoring an oratorical contest in Prince George’s County, Maryland to motivate high school students to learn more about President Obama, his leadership and signature policies that were enacted during the Obama years. 

The subject of the speech must be:  What life lessons have you learned from President Barack Obama and what action(s) will you take (or have you already taken) to address a problem(s) in your community to make it a better place.

Submissions of 5-minute speeches are due January 20, 2019 at 11:59p.  Finalist will deliver their speeches Saturday, February 23 at the Oxon Hill Library, in Oxon Hill, MD, 11:30a to 3:30p. The Committee will select three winners who will each receive $100. For application guidelines send The Committee an email.

The Committee  also celebrated his birthday last year on August 4 at Obama Elementary School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland and is planning another Obama event on President’s Day 2019. Port Of Harlem will publish details when they become available.