The Annual Senator Edward W. Brooke III Oratorical Scholarship Contest seeks participants who are college-bound African American and Hispanic males in the western Massachusetts area who are high school juniors and seniors and who have some experience or interest in public speaking. The participants compete for scholarship prizes during a community-wide event in Springfield, MA by presenting a speech about a topic chosen by the fraternity. Last year's theme was "The Status of African American Males: Crisis or Opportunity?" which was intended to encourage participants to reflect on and discuss the social, cultural, political, and historical influences and contexts that positively and/or negatively impact African American males in today's society.


There are usually 8-10 finalists chosen to compete during the culminating program. The finalists complete a rigorous schedule that includes preliminary screening, a public speaking workshop and one on one coaching by an assigned mentor from the fraternity. Speeches must have original content and be between 5 and 7 minutes (1000 words) in length and submitted typed and double-spaced in advance. All entries must be reviewed by an English instructor or guidance counselor prior to submission.

Scholarship awards are given to the top three contestants and made payable upon their college enrollment.
The 2007 & 2008 Senator Edward W. Brooke III Oratorical Scholarship Awards ($5,000.00) were:

First Place $2,500.00
Second Place $1,500.00
Third Place $1,000.00