Optimist Essay Competition
2011-12 Competition
Topic: "How my Positive Outlook Benefits my Community"
Who Can Compete: Youth under the age of 18 as of December 31 of the current 2011-12 school year (December 31, 2011) who have not yet graduated from high school or the equivalent.
How To Enter: Interested students must contact their local Optimist Club. If you cannot find a local Optimist club running an Oratorical contest, please contact our District Oratorical Chair. Students need to submit an essay on the pre-assigned topic with a completed application form which includes the contest rules. The application must be submitted to the sponsoring Optimist Club by the specified deadline date.
The Essay contest is sponsored by Optimist International to give young people the opportunity to write about their own opinions regarding the world in which they live. The approach can encompass a young person’s personal experience, the experience of their country or a more historical perspective. In additional to developing skills for written expression, participants also have the opportunity win a college scholarship!
Club winners advance to the District contest to compete for a $2,500 college scholarship. The District-level scholarships are funded by the Optimist International Foundations.
- All District finalists will have their essay published on the AMS&NW "OptiNews" blog.
- District winners are entered into the International Essay Contest, where a panel of judges selects a first-place winner. The international winner will receive an engraved plaque and recognition in The Optimist magazine.
Information for Optimist Clubs
Club Deadline: The deadline for Clubs to submit their winning essay to the District Chair is February 28, 2012.
For Optimists Planning the Essay Contest at their Club: All Members can now refer to the Essay Contest Resources.
Essay Contest Supplies: Support merchandise for this program can be ordered through the online Optimist Supplies Store operated by the Corall Group.
Dick Mastel
Essay Competition Chair
Res: (403) 527-0559
How can you learn more?
Simple ... just filll out our online contact form and I will contact you to see how we can help.
We can help you set up a local an essay competition in your school or local community.
If you have local expertise who would like to help us expand our efforts to get our youth to get active with essay writing, or you would like to volunteer to help us out ... we would really like to speak with you.
We also offer training workshops at our quarterly District Meetings. I invite you to attend a workshop and meet other Optimists who share your interests to run a local essay contest or to sponsor a youth for Optimist Essay Competitions.
Privacy Notice: Please be aware that using this online form does not give us permission to publish your contact information on our website. Your personal contact details are provided only to those individuals who need it to allow them to contact you directly.
Online Contact Form
You can use the following online form to contact me. Your information will be emailed to me and I will get back to you as soon as I can: