Optimist Club to host oratorical contest

VW Optimist Club information

The Optimist Club of Van Wert is encouraging area students to speak their minds during its annual oratorical contest, to be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 22, at Community Health Professionals, 1159 Westwood Drive in Van Wert.

The topic for the Optimist International Oratorical Contest for 2015 is “How My Optimism Will Help Me Press on to Greater Achievements of the Future.”

The local Optimist Club will judge students’ four- to five-minute speeches based on content and presentation to determine the top boy and girl winners. First-place winners will receive $200 and advance to the zone or regional level, and possibly the district level for the opportunity to win $2,500 college scholarships.

The contest is open to students who were under age 19 as of December 31, 2014, and who have not yet graduated from high school or the equivalent. Students from all local schools — public, private, and parochial schools, home schooled, Vantage Career Center — are welcome to enter.

Contest applications are available at Van Wert County high schools and middle schools through the guidance office, or may be picked up at Community Health Professionals. Application deadline is Monday, February 16.

For more information, contact Greg Yinger at 567.259.5277. An application may also be downloaded at www.optimist.org, search “oratorical contest”.