2026 Contest
The 2026 Oratorical Contest’s theme is Lawmakers and Lawbreakers: Architects of Justice & Agents of Chaos.
Contestants were encouraged to choose an individual, group or event that played a significant part terms of the law making – the legislators, judges, lawmen – OR the law breaking – the colorful outlaws, activists and others who crossed the line – in Texas’ past before 1976.
2026 Oratorical Contest Winner
The 101st Oratorical Contest was held on February 27, 2026 at The Witte Museum in San Antonio. This year‘s theme “Lawmakers and Lawbreakers; Architects of Justice & Agents of Chaos,“ invited participants to explore Texas figures, organizations and events related to Texas lawmaking or lawbreaking before 1976. Topics ranged from Ma and Pa Ferguson to Judge Roy Bean, Lady Bird Johnson to “Bigfoot” Wallace, and even the illustrious Bonnie and Clyde. Thirteen outstanding students from top Texas colleges and universities competed, each delivering a 10 to 12 minute memorized speech, without notes, teleprompters, or any type of aid.
The winner, Annette Addo-Yobo, a first year law student from Texas Tech University School of Law delivered her speech “Eloquent Thunder: Barbara Jordan and the Architecture of Justice.” As the winner, Addo-Yobo took home the $6000 first place prize plus an additional $3000 for the Texas Tech University School of Law Trial Advocacy Program. Barbara Jordan, a trailblazing Texas legislator and the first African-American woman from the South to be elected to the US Congress, perfectly embodied the “Architect of Justice“ side of this year‘s theme.
This victory highlights the Oratorical Contest’s ongoing impact – empowering students to illuminate Texas‘s complex and colorful history through eloquent and impassioned storytelling. Congratulations to Annette and all of the finalists, their coaches and schools, as well as to the volunteers who make this prestigious event possible each year. It is inspiring to see how a more than century old tradition continues to educate and celebrate Texas‘s remarkable past while supporting the next generation of leaders and historians!
Watch the 101th Oratorical Contest finals, Annette Addo-Yobo’s 1st place speech, the awards ceremony and centennial celebration below.
About the Contest
The mission of the Battle of Flowers is “teaching the history of our state and keeping alive the patriotic traditions of Texas and San Antonio.” In 1926, just 35 years after the organization’s founding, then-President Mary West Ward proposed the establishment of an oratorical contest “to raise awareness and inspire greater interest in Texas history among college students, as well as help preserve the patriotic traditions of Texas.”
Since then, the contest has been held annually for over 100 years, making it the second-oldest collegiate speech contest in the United States. Over the course of a century, the Battle of Flowers has awarded more than half a million dollars in prize money to over 300 students from 19 Texas schools—supporting education and encouraging the study of Texas history. This prestigious contest continues to bring together contestants from the state’s top colleges and universities to tell the story of Texas and its people, and has, in turn, become a part of Texas history itself.
The winner of the inaugural 1926 contest was Percy Foreman, a University of Texas law school student who would go on to become one of the country’s great trial lawyers. Other past winners have pursued successful careers as judges, journalists, actors, counselors, and even forensic coaches mentoring the next generation of college orators. One past winner reflected on their experience, saying, “The Battle of Flowers helped me discover the talent that launched my career and allowed me to approach future endeavors with grace and confidence.”
Past Oratorical Contest Winners
The Battle of Flowers founded the Oratorical Contest to preserve Texas’s history for future generations and expand educational opportunities for college students—and 100 years later, it continues to thrive.
Contest Awards
Prizes include: $12,000 for first place, $8,000 for second place, $5,000 for third place, $3,000 for fourth place and $2,000 for fifth place. Additionally, a monetary award is given to the faculty advisor’s university department for each top five contestant: $5,000 for first place; $4,000 for second place; $3,000 for third place; $2,000 for fourth place; and $1,000 for fifth place. Contestants who deliver their entire speech by memory during the Preliminary Round but are not chosen for the Finals receive an award of $500.
The contest winner delivers their speech as the keynote speaker at the annual Battle of Flowers Luncheon held during San Antonio’s Fiesta Celebration. The following day, the winner will be an honored guest in the Battle of Flowers Parade and will ride through downtown San Antonio. This is the largest and oldest parade in the nation created and presented by a volunteer force of women and is televised to over two million people worldwide.
Donate
Your support of our contest enables us to make significant prize money available to our winning students. Please email here to get information on how to sponsor our contest or one of our winner’s scholarships.
