On March 15, 2025, local American Legion Post 296 representative William Kiker from Fort Walton Beach High School won the State Championship for the 2024-2025 National High School Oratorical Scholarship Competition. The event was held at the Florida American Legion Headquarters in Orlando Fla.
Kiker was awarded a $2,500 dollar scholarship and will now compete in the National Championship in Hillsdale, Mich., on May 16-18. This is his second State Championship, having won last year. According to local Post 296 Oratorical Chairman Jim Wood, Kiker is an extremely hard worker and an excellent representative and ambassador for the local Post. He was a unanimous winner on all the judge’s score cards.
