Celebrate Freedom Week event to send two Louisiana students to national competition in California
BATON ROUGE, La. — The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), in partnership with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute and the City of Covington, will host the Louisiana Reagan oratory state finals on Tuesday, September 16 at the Covington Trailhead — home to the world’s largest Ronald Reagan statue.
The event is part of Louisiana’s annual Celebrate Freedom Week and will culminate with two Louisiana students earning a trip to compete in the Ronald Reagan Oratory Competition finals at the Reagan Presidential Library in California.
In addition to student presentations, the event will feature Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley, Reagan Foundation representatives, state and local officials, and community leaders.
“Celebrate Freedom Week gives us the opportunity to better understand the principles that define our nation,” said Dr. Brumley. “Through this competition, students are not just learning history. They are practicing civic engagement by honoring the freedoms and ideals that make America exceptional.”
About the Event
The program begins September 16 at 9:30 a.m. It will include student presentations from all four grade level categories: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Students in K-2 were asked to study a quote from President Reagan and create artwork that illustrates what freedom means to them. Students in all other grade levels were asked to recite a selected excerpt from one of President Reagan’s radio addresses. The overall winners in grades 6-8 and 9-12 will receive a trip to the national finals, which will include middle and high school students from across the country.
About the Reagan Foundation Partnership
Louisiana and the Reagan Foundation launched a special statewide division of the Ronald Reagan Oratory Competition this year to honor Celebrate Freedom Week and America’s 250th anniversary. Students across Louisiana engaged with a selected radio address by President Reagan, focusing on the enduring importance of freedom. The Louisiana competition was open to students in grades K-12.
About Celebrate Freedom Week
Celebrate Freedom Week, which is September 15-19 this year, is a statewide observance that promotes civic understanding and constitutional literacy among Louisiana students. Held annually in September to coincide with Constitution Day and Constitution Week, the week ensures students receive age-appropriate instruction on the founding principles of the United States.