optimist club essay contest

• Mon. Apr 8th, 2024

North Florida District - Optimist International

Bringing out the Best in Youth, Our Communities & Ourselves!

Optimist International Essay Contest

By Daniel Rich

Topic for the 2023-2024 school year is:   “ Optimism: How it connects us ”.  

Who:  The contest is open to contestants under the age of 19 as of October 1st of the current Optimist International contest year (October 1 – September 30) and who have not yet completed secondary school or its equivalent, including CEGEP students in Québec, Canada. There is no minimum age. Students must enter in the District in which they reside. U.S. students attending school on military installations outside the U.S. are eligible to enter in their last home of record. How To Enter:  Interested students must contact their local Optimist Club. They need to submit an essay on the pre-assigned topic. To find out a contact, please e-mail the Programs Department at  [email protected] . The Essay Contest planning pages are intended for use by Optimist Clubs in organizing and conducting a contest in their Club. They contain no information on entering the contest and are of no use to students wishing to enter the contest. Students must contact their local Optimist Club. When:

• Students – All Club-level contests are held by early February. Student submissions will not be accepted after the Club-level contests have closed. Please contact your District Chair for more information.
• Clubs – The deadline for Clubs to submit their winning essay to the District Chair is February 28, 2024. The deadline for Districts to submit their winner’s information to Optimist International is April 15, 2024. 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.

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 to 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.

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Optimist Club Of The Beaches

Essay contest.

“The Optimist Club of the Beaches believes young students today have many fresh ideas about our community, the world, and their future. As Optimists, it is our goal to encourage, motivate and do what we can to bring out the best in each and every student. The Optimist International Essay Contest gives them a wonderful opportunity to tap into their creativity while pursuing scholarships for higher education. The Optimist Club of the Beaches has been participating in the Optimist Essay Contest for several years and has been active in the community since 1963.”

This school year of 2023-2024 essay contest theme:   “optimism: how it connects us”.

  IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 08. 2024

Panama city beach, fl – the optimist club of the beaches is encouraging bay county students to contemplate the phrase “optimism: how it connects us” as part of the optimist international essay contest for the 2023 – 2024 school year., the optimist club will judge the local students’ essays, based on the theme of “optimism: how it connects us” and determine the top winners. local winners will receive up to $500 cash awards and their essays will be submitted to the district level where they will be competing for $2500 college scholarships., the optimist club of the beaches believes young students today have many fresh ideas about our community, the world, and their future. as optimists, it is our goal to encourage, motivate and do what we can to bring out the best in each and every student. the optimist international essay contest gives them a wonderful opportunity to tap into their creativity while pursuing scholarships for higher education. the optimist club of the beaches has been participating in the optimist essay contest for several years and has been active in the community since 1963., other programs and service projects that the club is involved in include children’s cancer, youth appreciation event, teacher appreciation, policeman and fireman appreciation, backpack program, fishing rodeo, paws in the park, cops n kids, junior golf tournament, annual christmas parade, miracle field, emerald coast cruizin’, miracle league, and scottish festival., each interested student will be required to fill in the “revised 2023-2024 optimist international essay scholarship competition application essay contest application” , which can be found on our website at https://optimistpcb.org/essay-contest -application . rules and all associated guidelines can be found within this form, along with entry form. note: eligible students should be under the age of 19 as of october 01, 2023., a copy of this flyer can also be found on our website https://optimistpcb.org.

PLEASE HAVE THE APPLICATION/ENTRY FORM COMPLETED ALONG WITH THE SUBMITTED ESSAY INTO [email protected] NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09th, 2024.

If you have any questions or need further clarification, please feel free to contact Mike Calidonna at 850- 381-0866 .

Optimist international is one of the world’s largest service club organizations with 80,000 adult and youth members in 2,500 clubs in the united states, canada, the caribbean, mexico, and throughout the world. carrying the motto “friend of youth,” optimists conduct positive service projects that reach more than six million young people each year. to learn more about optimist international, please visit https://www.optimist.org.

OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL ESSAY CONTEST

2023-2024 ESSAY SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST TOPIC

“Optimism: How it Connects Us”

District Chair

498 Idlewild Drive

Greenville, MS 38701

Cell:662-820-5047

[email protected]

At end of the contest send the

winner's essay to Mary Hardy as

1 . Four printed copies of the

winner's essay

2. A copy of the winner's

Birth Certificate

3. A check for $30 made out to

AL-MS District

4. A completed District Essay

Contest Entry Form

available below.

The the Club's winning essay must reach the District Chair by 11:59 p.m. on February 28, 2024 .

2023-24 Contestant Application Form

The Official Application Form

2023-24 Club Planning Guide

Planning Guide for Your Club Chair.

2023-24 District Planning Guide

Planning Guide for the District Chair

2023-24 District Essay Entry Form

Form Required to Forward Club Winner to the District. (Also on page 12 of planning guide)

News Release Examples

Example News Releases for Before and After Your Contest

Certificate Examples

Example Certificates for Club and District Level Contests

Bixby Optimist Club

Essay contest.

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 addition to developing skills for written expression, participants also have the opportunity to win a college scholarship!

2023-2024 Topic: Optimism: How It Connects Us

It’s that time of year again! The 2023-2024 Optimist International Scholarship Essay Contest is open to all students under 19 years of age as of October 1, 2023!

This year’s topic is “ Optimism: How It Connects Us “. You can download the contest application with a complete set of rules below. All entries must be received in pdf form by January 15, 2024 . Just so you know – only the essay and application will be due at that time. We will contact the winner to confirm proof of age. PLEASE encourage entrants to check and double-check that they have FOLLOWED ALL RULES lined out on the application! All essays will be run through plagiarism and AI detection programs before determining winners.

The Bixby Optimist Club’s first through third-place contestants will receive $100, $75, and $50 prizes, respectively. The first-place winner will progress to the district contest, where a $2500 scholarship will be awarded for the winning essay.

Bixby students have made us VERY proud with District and Regional winners ($5000 scholarship!) in the last few years. Please encourage your students, kids, neighbors’ kids, family, and EVERYBODY you know who is eligible to enter.

All rules are included in the application available at the link below.

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Optimist Essay Contest

Optimist International Essay Contest

Topic for the 2023-2024 school year is: “Optimism: How It Connects Us” Who: The contest is open to contestants under the age of 19 as of October 1st of the current Optimist International contest year (October 1 – September 30) and who have not yet completed secondary school or its equivalent, including CEGEP students in Québec, Canada. There is no minimum age. Students must enter in the District in which they reside. U.S. students attending school on military installations outside the U.S. are eligible to enter in their last home of record.

Entry due to Club by February 11, 2024.

• Club Contest Date will be early February 11th, 2024
• District Contest Date: March 2023

General Information from Optimist International can be found at:  https://www.optimist.org/member/scholarships3.cfm

2023-2024 Essay Application – Roseville, MN – 35232

For further information contact us at [email protected].

Please read the application form carefully.

• DISTRICT REPORTS
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Optimist International Essay Contest

The Optimist International Essay Contest is a scholarship program for young writers who are 19 years old or younger and not enrolled in a post-secondary degree program. Competitions are held at the club level with winners moving onto the Colorado-Wyoming Optimist District Essay Contest to compete for a $2500 scholarship . This year’s topic is Optimism: How It Connects Us . The Essay Contest is sponsored by Optimist International to give young people the opportunity to write their own opinions regarding the world in which they live. Club contests must be completed by February 28, 2024 . District winners will be announced by April 15, 2024. 

2024 Essay Contest Flyer 

23-24 Essay Contest Application Form  Club Essay Contest Planning Guide Jeff Gartz, District Essay Chairperson,  jeffgartz@gmail.com

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Optimist international essay contest.

The Optimist International Essay Contest is divided into two levels of competition: Club and District. Contestants must compose an original essay with limited guidance from others. Webster's dictionary defines an essay as an analytic or interpretative literary composition. Works of fiction or poetry will not be accepted. The contest is open to students under age 19 as of October 1, 2021, and who have not yet completed secondary school or its equivalent. Contestants are eligible for only one Club's contest during any given year. No student who has previously won an Optimist Essay contest scholarship will be eligible to compete at any level of the competition again. The Meridian Optimist Club awards the first three places with cash awards.

First place receives $200 second place receives $150 and third place receives $100 .

The Club level winning Essay will be submitted to the District Level Contest for the opportunity of winning a $2,500 scholarship .

Click here to download Essay Contest Rules and Entry Form

Optimist International Oratorical Contest

The Optimist International Oratorical contest will begin at the Club level, proceed to the Zone/Regional level and end at the District level.   The contest is open to students under the age of 19 as of October 1, 2022, and who have not yet completed secondary school or its equivalent, There is no minimum age. A contestant is eligible to enter/compete in only one Optimist Oratorical contest during a contest year. Each contestant shall prepare his or her own speech. The contestant may receive advice in the preparation of the speech and may make minor changes or improvements in the speech at any time. A student who has won a District Oratorical scholarship is not eligible to compete at any level of the competition again.

The Meridian Optimist Club awards the first three places with cash awards. First place receives $200, second place receives $150, and third place receives $100. .

District Level winners receive scholarships of $2,500, $1,500, and $1,000 for First, Second, and Third.

Click here to download Oratorical Contest Rules and Entry Form

BOOK NOW – Michigan District Q3 Conference May 3-4

Friend of Youth

Essay Contest

The contest is divided into two levels of competition:

1. The preliminary Club contest, where the winner from each local contest advances to the District level, and

Could You Use a $2500 Scholarship?

Topic for the 2023-24 school year is: “Optimism: How it Connects Us”

Eligibility: Open to all students under the age of 19 as of Oct 1, 2023 (and not enrolled as a degree-seeking student of a post-secondary institution)

Residence: Student must reside in the State of Michigan – Lower Peninsula

Language: The essay must be written in English

How to Enter: Students write and submit an essay on their interpretation of this year’s official topic, “Optimism: How it Connects Us”.

This scholarship contest is comprised of 2 levels: A preliminary round, which is conducted by local Optimist clubs across the state (entry deadline is generally Jan 31, 2024). The winner from each local club advances to the District level, where scholarships are awarded annually in May. The overall winner receives a $2,500 scholarship, Second Place earns $1,500 and Third Place earns $1,000.

A list of participating clubs will be posted in early December. Students: submit your essay packet to the one in your community. If there is not an Optimist Club where you live, submit your essay packet to the one nearest to you. Duplicate entries will not be accepted and are grounds for disqualification.

Most Clubs only accept submissions during the months of December and January. It is your responsibility to verify the deadline with the respective chairperson. Student submissions will not be accepted after the Club-level contests have closed.

Optimist Clubs or parents wanting more information can use the form below or please e-mail the Michigan District Essay Chair at [email protected] .

Club-Level Winner’s Submission Deadline: The deadline for Clubs to submit their winning essay to the District Chair is February 28, 2024. Please refer to your Club Packet or contact the District Chair for more information.

Application for 2023-2024 Optimist International Essay Contest

2023 – 2024 local clubs participating in essay contest, no entries match your request..

2022-23 Essay Contest Winner

1st place, and a $2,500 scholarship:Brooke Lewis, age 16 from Zealand High SchoolHolland Optimist Club   "Who is an Everyday Hero that Brings Out the Optimism in You?" Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "Good leaders inspire people to have confidence in their leader....

Michigan District Optimists proudly announces the results of the 2021-22 Essay Scholarship Contest!

Michigan District Optimists proudly announce the results of the 2021-22 Essay Scholarship Contest!1st Place and winner of the $2,500 scholarship: Grace Brege, age 18,Alpena High SchoolOptimist Club of Alpine 2nd Place: Claire Johnson, age 16,Ogemaw Heights High...

Michigan District Optimists proudly announces the results of the 2020-21 Essay Scholarship Contest!

Michigan District Optimists proudly announces the results of the 2020-21 Essay Scholarship Contest!1st Place and winner of the $2,500 scholarship: Bowei Li, age 16,Okemos High SchoolRoyal Oak Optimist Club 2nd Place: Lucy Cheatham, age 16,Portage Central High...

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Optimist Club of Oakville

Essay competition.

• $500.00 for the first place winner
• $350.00 for the second place winner
• $150.00 for the third place winner.

Optimist Club honors students who won essay contest in Brookings

BROOKINGS — Eli Ellsworth, an eighth grader at George S. Mickelson Middle School, recently won the Optimist Club of Brookings’ essay contest based on a theme of “Optimism: How it Connects us”.

Ellsworth was awarded first-place honor. In addition, the essay will be sent to the district level to be judged along with winners from other Optimist Clubs in the district. College scholarships are available for top winners at the district level.

“Ellsworth did a wonderful job of articulating this year’s theme. He expressed himself well through the essay and deserved the honor of first place,” Club President Jan Stange said.

Second-place winner in the Essay contest was Awurama Dwomoh, while the third-place winner was Ty Harris.

The Optimist Club of Brookings has been participating in the Optimist Essay Contest for several years and has been active in the community. Other programs and service projects that the Club is involved in include Trout Extravaganza, Kite Festival, Bike Rodeo and Avenue of Flags.

Optimist International is one of the world’s largest club organizations with 80,000 adult and youth members in 2,500 clubs in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Medico, and throughout the world. Carrying the mission statement “By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in youth, our communities, and ourselves."

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 visit the organization’s website at www.optimist.org .

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2021 Essay Winners

May 12, 2021 @ 7:00 am - 8:30 am cdt.

Join us as we welcome the winners from the 2021 Optimist Club Essay contest!

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Essay Contest

"Bringing Out the Best in Youth, in our Communities, and in Ourselves."

WIN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR WRITING!

PURPOSE This contest is sponsored by Optimist International to give young people room to develop their own views around a central idea. In addition to the opportunity for written expression, participants have the chance to win a college scholarship!

WHO The contest is open to contestants under the age of 19 as of October 1st of the current Optimist International contest year (October 1 – September 30) and who have not yet completed secondary school or its equivalent, including CEGEP students in Québec, Canada. There is no minimum age. U.S. students attending school on a military installation outside the United States are eligible to enter in their last U.S. home of record. The District Chair will receive all entries from students living on U.S. military installations and send them to a Club in the city the student last resided in. If no Club is available, the District Chair will hold an At-Large contest for these students. An At-Large student may not have competed in an Optimist International or District contest in the same year. Students residing in non-Districted areas where there are no Optimist Clubs are not eligible for competition.

HOW TO ENTER Interested students should complete the  “Application for Optimist International Essay Contest ” and submit an essay on the assigned topic. The essays are judged at both Club and District levels. All Club submissions should be run through a plagiarism checker before being forwarded to the next level.

BONITA OPTIMIST CLUB WINNING ESSAY The Bonita Optimist Club will submit the winning essay to the District Chair before February 28. District entries are judged and submitted to the Optimist International Programs Department no later than April 15. District winners will be notified by a letter from Optimist International between April 15 and June 1.

PRIZES Club level – official medallion and a chance to win a first, second, or third place scholarship of $300, $200, or $100 respectively. District level – plaque and a $2,500 college scholarship for first place winners.

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Perry High School students win 2024 Perry Optimist essay contest

P erry Optimist Club handed out medals to the local essay contest winners during its meeting on Wednesday, April 3 at the Hotel Pattee.

Linda Andorf, who facilitated the contest, said DMACC VanKirk Career Academy's Linda Kaufman assigned a writing assignment to her Perry High School/DMACC students. The assignment was graded and was then judged anonymously by Perry Optimist Club members. This year, 32 essays were submitted and four places were awarded.

Erika Guardado won first place while Jennifer Ramos received second place. Mia Munoz and Kain Killmer tied for third place.

In the lead-up to the 2020 election, all eyes are on Iowa. Get updates of all things Iowa politics delivered to your inbox.

The prompt for this year’s contest was "Optimism: How it Connects Us."

Guardado’s essay has been sent to the district level. She will also receive a $500 scholarship during the senior awards assembly in May.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Perry High School students win 2024 Perry Optimist essay contest

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Fundraiser for Special Olympics this weekend

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Grab your headbands and pickleball paddles for a fun event to help support local athletes.

The Sunrise Optimist Club of Yuma is hosting a pickleball tournament on Saturday, April 6, and Sunday, April 7, at the Cocopah RV and Golf Resort. 

There will be raffles and activities for the entire family. All proceeds will go towards the Special Olympics.

"Our mission, the Sunrise Optimist Club mission is to help Yuma kids to whatever endeavor.. we do that through scholarships through essay contest and and speech contest," said Howard Blitz, Sunrise Optimist Club of Yuma member.

The action starts on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

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GATEway Optimists

By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in youth, our communities, and ourselves.

Essay Contest 2023

2022-2023 Optimist International Essay Contest

Topic: “ who is an everyday hero that brings out the optimism in you ”, district essay chair:     dot sayer                                                   email: [email protected]                                                   cell: 770-823-2923.

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 to win a college scholarship!

This contest is open to students under the age of 19 as of October 1, 2022  and who have not yet completed secondary school or its equivalent. There is no minimum age. Essays must be typewritten and double-spaced and contain not less than 700 and no more than 800 words. Works of fiction or poetry are not eligible.

Zone winners advance to the District contest to compete for a $2,500 college scholarship. The District level scholarships are funded by the Optimist International Foundation.

For more information, visit  www.optimist.org/e/member/scholarships3.cfm

Contest deadlines:  .

Club to Zone: must be received by Lt. Governor by Jan. 31, 2023

Zone to District: must be received by Dot Sayer by Feb. 28, 2023

District to OI: must be received at OI by April 15, 2023

Items in Your Club Entry Packet:

• Optimist International Essay Contest Application for 2022-2023 – Must be signed by contestant and parent or guardian
• District Essay Contest Entry Form – Must be signed by contestant, Club Essay Chair and Club President.
• Legible Copy of Birth Certificate or Passport
• Typed Copy of Essay
• A Check for $35 Made Payable to Gateway District Optimist International

Optimist International Resources:

To download rules and application form,  click here, for the essay contest program package,  click here  , to download the club planning guide,  click here, essay contest general information and forms can be found at  essay contest page at optimist.org, club certificate of participation can be found at:  https://www.optimist.org/forms/essay_certificate_club_color.pdf  .

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Advancing social justice, promoting decent work

Ilo is a specialized agency of the united nations, schoolchildren discuss future of work: an essay contest in baku.

On 14 June 2019, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Azerbaijan held in its premises an awarding ceremony of the essay contest on the topics of the ILO Centenary and the Future of Work. Schoolchildren from Baku took part in the contest.