The Platteville Optimist Clubs are encouraging area students to speak their minds about the topic “How My Optimism Will Help Me Press On To Greater Achievements of the Future” as part of the 2015 Optimist International Oratorical Contest.
Optimist Club members will judge the local students’ speeches based on content and presentation to determine the top winners. There will be two local winners and each will receive a $100.00 cash prize. The top two will continue to compete with other regional winners for the opportunity to win a $2,500.00 college scholarship.
Students 15 and younger as of Dec. 31 who have not yet graduated from high school or the equivalent are eligible to participate.
“As they prepare for their future, many of our local students need experience expressing their thoughts and opinions to an audience,” said Tracy Ball, contest organizer. “The Oratorical Contest challenges them to do just that and also offers an opportunity for scholarships. In this way, the Optimists hope to bring out the best in each of them and help them achieve their goals for the future.”
The deadline to submit applications is March 12. Students wishing to participate in the oratorical contest can get the application and contest rules from www.optimist.org. Area school counselors will have application forms and more information. The local contest will be held in the Community Room at Mound City Bank in Platteville March 24.
Applications should be sent to Platteville Area Optimist Club, P.O. Box 4, Platteville, WI 53818, by March 12. Copies of the speech do not have to be sent with the application. However, to verify your age, please include a photocopy of your birth certificate or passport with the application.
The Platteville Optimist Clubs have been participating in the Optimist Oratorical Contest for many years and are active in community service. The Optimist Motto is “Bringing Out the Best in Kids”. To that end, the clubs sponsor scholarship contests, sports clinics, a bike rodeo, and other kid-related activities throughout the year.
Locally, three clubs are active in the Platteville area. To check out the Noon Club’s page on Facebook. The Breakfast Club’s website is plattevilleoptimist.org. To learn more about the UW-Platteville Student Club search uwplatt.collegiatelink.net/organization/Optimist/about.
Optimist International is one of the world’s largest service club organizations with 75,000 adult and youth members in 2,600 clubs in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico and throughout the world. The Optimist Oratorical Contest is one of the organization’s most popular programs, with more than 2,000 clubs participating annually. Optimists conduct positive service projects that reach more than six million young people each year. To learn more about Optimist International, call (314) 371-6000 or go to www.optimist.org.
