Attention Students,
The Florida Debate Initiative has a speech opportunity for students all around the state of Florida to celebrate America's 250th anniversary. Students who win will receive a $100 award, while 2nd place receives $50, and 3rd place receives $25.
Students must do the following:
Answer the prompt: What do you love most about America — and why does it make you proud?
Required Submissions
To complete your submission, please include the following uploads when prompted:
Speech Transcript
Speech Recording Audio File
4-6 minutes for Grades 6-8
FDI America 250 Speech Contest — Official Rules
Speech Transcript
Must be a complete and accurate record of every word spoken in the speech.
The transcript will not be judged for spelling, punctuation, or grammar.
Must be typed and clearly legible.
Speech Recording
Must be an audio-only recording (no visuals permitted).
Recording must be clear and understandable.
Must follow the time minimums and maximums for each division of grade levels.
Content Requirements
Speech must directly address the contest prompt.
All content must be appropriate for a school setting.
Submission Requirements
Name the transcript file First Name Last Name Transcript
For example: Jane Doe Transcript
Name the audio recording file First Name Last Name Recording
For example: Jane Doe Recording
All information on the application must be truthful, complete, and correctly formatted.
Both the transcript and the recording must be submitted together by April 20th.
Disqualification
Submissions that are incomplete, inaccurate, unclear, or incorrectly formatted will not be accepted.
Students are prohibited from plagiarism or the use of generative AI.
Non-School Sponsored Activity Notice: By submitting this application, both student and parent acknowledge that this contest is not sponsored by your student’s local school. The contest is administered by the Florida Debate Initiative.
Photography Notice: By submitting this application, both student and parent acknowledge and approve of any photography and videography, including audio. Parent and student authorize the images and recordings to be used by the Florida Debate Initiative for promotional and educational purposes.
If you have any questions, concerns, or specific needs, please contact us at speechcontest@floridadebate.org. If any changes occur to the information submitted in this application, please message speechcontest@floridadebate.org.
As you complete the form, you will be asked to provide email addresses. Do not use a school email (as many have prohibitive firewalls) and verify that all email addresses provided can receive mail; we use email to communicate with applicants and others– please check your spam folder and add speechcontest@floridadebate.org and learning@floridadebate.org to your safe sender’s list.
For all information go to https://www.floridadebate.org/america-250-speech-contest.