Optimist Club hosts contests for students
Essay contest
The Optimist Club of Pea Ridge is encouraging area students to contemplate the phrase “Lead by Example: Reality or Fiction” as part of the Optimist International Essay Contest for 2016.
The Optimist Club will judge the local students’ essays, based on the theme of “Optimism Should be a Priority” and determine the top winners. Winners will receive scholarships and the winning essays will be sent to the district level where additional college scholarships are available for top winners.
“Young students today have so many fresh ideas about the world and their future,” John Lasater, club president, said. “As Optimists, it is our goal to encourage them and do what we can to bring out the best in each of them. This gives them a wonderful opportunity to tap into their creativity and pursue possible scholarships at the same time.”
The Optimist Club of Pea Ridge has been participating in the Optimist Essay Contest for eight years and has been active in the community since 2005. Other programs and service projects that the Club is involved in include the Flag Placement Project and supporting many other groups such as Heart and Sole and the Pea Ridge Boys traveling baseball team.
Students wishing to participate in the essay contest can find out more about the contest by contacting the club at 479-903-6795. Deadline for entry is Feb. 12, 2016.
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 United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico and throughout the world. Carrying the motto “Bringing Out the Best in Kids,” Optimists conduct positive service projects that reach more than six million young people each year. To learn more about Optimist International, please call (314) 371-6000 or visit the organization’s website at www.optimist.org.
Oratorical Contest
The Optimist Club of Pea Ridge is encouraging area students to speak their minds about the topic “How My Best Brings Out the Best in Others” as part of the Optimist International Oratorical Contest for the 2015-2016 year.
The Optimist Club will judge the local students’ speeches based on content and presentation to determine the top winners. Winners will receive scholarships and the winning speeches will be sent to the Zone level, and possibly the District level for the opportunity to win additional college scholarships. Winners of the District level will be eligible to compete in a regional competition in St. Louis Missouri at Saint Louis University. Winners of the regional contests will compete in the World Championship also held at Saint Louis University. Students could possibly win up to $22,500 or more in scholarships!
The contest is open to students under the age of 18 as of October 1, 2015.
“As they prepare for their future, many of our local students need experience expressing their thoughts and opinions to an audience,” John Lasater, club president, said. “The oratorical contest challenges them to do just that and also offers an opportunity for scholarships. In this way, our club hopes to bring out the best in each of them and help them achieve their goals for the future.”
The deadline to hand in speeches is Feb. 22, 2016. Students wishing to participate in the oratorical contest can find out more about the contest by contacting the club at 479-619-9114.
The Optimist Club of Pea Ridge has been participating in the Optimist Oratorical Contest for six years and has been active in the community since 2005. Other programs and service projects that the Club is involved in include Heart and Sole, PRHS Scholarship program and flag placement on national holidays.
Optimist International is one of the world’s largest service club organizations with 93,000 adult and youth members in 3,200 clubs in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean 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. Carrying the motto “Bringing Out the Best in Kids,” 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.