Optimist Club hosts oratorical contest

The Optimist Club of Springboro hosted it annual oratorical contest for students in grades seven through 12 Tuesday at Springboro High School. Students were asked to speak about the topic “Where are My Roots of Optimism?” The top speeches were awarded $200, $100, and $50 cash awards. Ashleigh Holweger and Riley Weisman received first place awards and will advance to compete in the Optimists Zonelevel contest on March 12 in Centerville. Ashley Vosler and Daniel Huyah received second place awards, and Carly Titus and Jonas Yu received third place awards. A total of twenty students delivered speeches, including Jordan Babb, Ella Bowman, Nick Buzzell, Zoe Chappelle, Kylie Georgiefski, Keara Hatton, Shria Kapisthalam, Ashley Lucuk, Taylor Mahoney, Caroline Majors, Elijjah Rovito, Kevin Schriml, Tanner Shelton, and Alex Volk.

Judges from the Springboro Optimist Club scored the speeches on content, presentation, and adherence to the Optimist contest guidelines. This year’s contest judges were David Erich, Ann Finnie, Rebekah Anderson Giuffre, Willy Hanlon. Karen Lane DeRosa served as contest chair. The contest was open to all students residing in the Springboro School District in grades seven through 12 who were under the age of 18 as of Oct. 1, 2017.

This Springboro Optimist Club holds this oratorical contest as well as a scholarship essay contest each year. The club is most well-known program in the community for the Avenue of Flags program. The Optimist Club of Springboro meets the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 a.m. at the City of Springboro building. The group contributes to youth-related causes and service throughout the year and assists in leading Junior Optimists groups in Springboro Schools.