Louisiana's BRAVE plan for education

Two Louisiana students will earn a trip to Ronald Reagan National Oratory Finals in California

(BATON ROUGE, LA) - To honor America’s 250th anniversary and Celebrate Freedom Week, the Louisiana Department of Education and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute have launched a statewide student oratory competition. Two student winners will advance to the national finals at the Reagan Presidential Library in California.

This special Louisiana division of the national Ronald Reagan Oratory Competition invites students in grades K–12 to reflect on the theme of freedom and President Reagan’s legacy. Finalists will be selected to compete in a state-level event during Celebrate Freedom Week, and the middle and high school winners will earn a trip to the national competition at the Reagan Presidential Library.

Students across Louisiana will engage with a selected radio address by President Reagan, focusing on the enduring importance of freedom. Competition resources, guidance, and submission tools are available online by division. Submissions are due by September 1.

How Students Can Participate

• Grades 9–12: Students will recite the full radio address, and will be judged on clarity, delivery, and interpretation.
  • Access Link
• Grades 6–8: Students will recite a selected excerpt of the radio address, and will be judged on clarity, delivery, and interpretation.
  • Access Link
• Grades 3–5: Students will recite a brief excerpt with expression, illustrate its meaning through an original drawing, and explain how their artwork reflects their understanding of freedom.
  • Access Link
• Grades K–2: Students will study a quote from President Reagan, create a drawing that illustrates what freedom means to them, and explain how their artwork reflects their understanding.
  • Access Link