The Noon Optimist Club of Oshkosh, Wisconsin and the Oakwood School PTA combined their efforts this year to have such a large number of participants in the Optimist Oratorical Contest. Each student that participates receives a certificate of participation and a ribbon or medal. The top male and female speakers also earned $100 and the opportunity to advance to the district competition where they will compete for college scholarships up to $2,500.
The Optimist Oratorical Contest is the longest running program sponsored by Optimist International. It began in 1928 and the need for public speaking skills remains as critical today as it did then. One of the unique aspects of the Optimist Oratorical Contest is that it requires participants to speak to the same topic. Students can be very passionate and persuasive about certain topics; asking them to speak to something else requires personal development and the ability to research and reflect.
The Optimist Oratorical Contest is without a doubt this writer's favorite program. Kudos to the Noon Optimist Club of Oshkosh, Wisconsin for inspiring so many students to participate.