Optimist Oratorical Competition
2011-12 Optimist Oratorical Contest
Topic: "How my Optimism Helps me Overcome Obstacles"
Who Can Compete: Students under the age of 18 years as of December 31 of the 2011-2012 school year (December 31, 2011) who have not yet graduated from high school or the equivalent and who are educated in the United States, Canada or the Caribbean.
How To Enter: Interested students submit a speech on the pre-assigned topic to their local Optimist Club. Students or a teacher can contact their local Optimist Club to arrange a local speak-off competition. For an application with contest rules, click here. The application must be submitted to the sponsoring Optimist Club by the specified deadline date.
The Optimist Oratorical Contest gives youngsters the chance to speak to the world. More than $150,000 in college scholarships are awarded annually from this program.
First conducted in 1928, this is the second most popular Optimist International Program. Nearly 2,000 clubs participate in this program each year. The winners at the Club level receive medallions and Zone winners receive a plaque. Districts have the opportunity to provide two $2,500 scholarships or a first place scholarship of $2,500, a second place scholarship of $1,500, and a third place scholarship of $1,000.
Speak-Off Contests
Competitors will participate in a series of "Speak-off Contests" with the finalists moving forward to participate in the next highest level speak-off. These speak-off contests are scheduled so that the finalists will compete in a District speak-off sometime in May 2012:
- Club Speak-off: This is the entry level contest were one or several clubs will conduct a community-level speak-off contest to select one male and female finalist per club to compete at a Zone speak-off.
- Zone Speak-off: The club finalists will compete in a multi-community competition to select a male and female finalist to move forward to compete in a Regional speak-off.
- Regional Speak-off: The zone finalists will compete in a province or state level competition to select a male and female finalist to move forward to compete in the District speak-off.
- District Speak-off: The District Speak-off between the Regional finalists will be held in Calgary, Alberta during the 3rd Quarter District Conference in May 2012. More details will be provided as they become available.
Information for Optimist Clubs
For Optimists Planning the Oratorical Contest at their Club: All Members can now refer to the Oratorical Contest Resources.
Oratorical Contest Supplies: Support merchandise for this program can be ordered through the online Optimist Supplies Store operated by the Corall Group.
Marilyn Bushell
Oratorical
Competition Chair
Res: (403) 248-9181
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 Kis Speak Out public speaking club or an oratorical speak-off competition in your local community.
If you have local expertise who would like to help us expand our efforts to get our youth to get active with public speaking, 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 oratorical contest or to sponsor a youth for Optimist Oratorical 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: