America's Freedom Festival of Provo is again sponsoring a youth speech competition that will award Utah County students in grades nine through 12 several hundred dollars in prizes.

In the junior division, grades 9 and 10, this year's topic is "They signed for us," focusing on those who signed the Declaration of Independence. The topic of the senior division, grades 11 and 12, is the title of Catherine D. Bowen's book titled "The Miracle at Philadelphia." Speeches must be memorized oratories lasting five to seven minutes.The junior division competition is June 12 and 13. The senior division competition is June 19 and 21. The winner of the senior division will receive $500 and will speak at the Patriotic Service at the Brigham Young University Marriott Center. The second-place winner will receive $350 and will speak at one of the festival's concert events.

The winner of the junior division will receive $250 and also will speak at a concert. The second-place winner will get $200 and the third-place winner $150. All winners will ride in the Freedom Festival Grand Parade on July 4.

Interested students should register by May 18 with event chairwoman Diane Hartman at 489-0511 or Darlene Kelly, 374-6583. Those who register will receive information packets containing judging criteria, helpful hints and thoughts on this year's topics.

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Barnes & Noble Books and Music will present two symposiums for each division to help contestants prepare for the contest. The symposiums will feature videos of past contest winners, and contestants will receive a list of suggested resources. Junior division symposiums will be May 12 at 4:30 p.m. and May 20 at 9 a.m. Senior division symposiums will be May 13 at 9 a.m. and May 19 at 4:30 p.m.

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