Kaitlyn Lamb of Cardwell earned $1,000 in scholarship money and first place in the American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program: A Constitutional Speech Contest Sunday afternoon held at Fort Harrison.

This was the third year Lamb, a senior at Whitehall High School, competed in the speech contest.

"A lot of hard work paid off," she said.

This was the 70th competition in support of the 2008 American Legion National Oratorical Contest for students from across the state. Seven high school students came to Helena representing the winners of their American Legion District. They spoke on various attributes of the U.S. Constitution using a combination of planned and assigned speech formats.

Lamb's prepared speech was about the duties and obligations of the American people. The duties are to defend against oppression, she said, and the obligation is to stand as one.

Elmer Palmer, department vice commander for the American Legion, said the speech competition gives young people opportunities to further their education and successful future.

"When you look at the people who have gone through it and the achievements they have made -- they are all holding pretty impressive jobs," he said. "It gives kids the opportunity and more importantly the confidence to step up and do the things they want to achieve."

Lamb plans to attend college in Montana and double-major in political science and business. She then hopes to attend law school.

Lamb will compete at the National Oratorical Contest in Indianapolis in April with a chance to win up to $18,000 in scholarship money.

"I'm pretty excited to see the competition at nationals," she said.

Reporter Alana Listoe: 447-4081 or alana.listoe@helenair.com