It's never too late to recognize outstanding students

President Dick Kugler of the Breakfast
Optimist Club of Spartanburg, SC is
flanked by the Oratorical Contest
winners

I haven't posted Optimist International Oratorical Contest winners on the Experience Optimism blog this year because I started a Pinterest pin board for them instead. It is by no means complete and I would welcome any additions that you may have. Please share links and pictures with me (Linda Jackson) so that all of the wonderful student contestants may be recognized.

However, I decided to share a photo today to serve as both a reminder and a congratulations.

First, the students who participate in Optimist International and Optimist Club scholarship programs are brave young souls who deserve compliments and love for their speeches, essays and points of view. We think that they are all great and by choosing winners, we give all contestants something to strive for when they return next year. Over $150,000 is given away every year by the Optimist International Foundation for these contests. With more donated by individual Optimist Clubs, we think that promoting excellence in communication is well worth the effort.

The second reason for this post today is to give a shout-out to the students in this picture. Courtney Brink, Terin Tyson, Tara Ferris, Mackenzie Johnson, Jackson Erb and Cameron Hall were named the winners of the Breakfast Optimist Club of Spartanburg, South Carolina in April yet their pictures didn't appear in the paper until July 6. Thank you, students, we appreciate you!

And finally, if your club held a contest this year, but did not submit the information to your local paper - it is not too late! The students deserve the recognition and your Optimist Club will benefit from being associated with such young, high achievers. So go ahead, write a press release, include a picture, and submit it to your local newspaper today.

Photo courtesy of the Spartanburg, SC Breakfast Optimist Club.