Optimist International Oratorical Contest
Topic: "Why My Voice is Important"
Who: Students under the age of 19 who have not yet graduated from high school or the equivalent and who are educated in the United States, Canada or the Caribbean.
How To Enter: Interested students submit a speech on the pre-assigned topic to their local Optimist Club. To find out the contact in your area, please e-mail the Programs Department at programs@optimist.org.
When:
The District Contest is held during the 3rd Quarter District Convention in Billing MT. May 18, 2013 at 10:30 am
Our District hold Regional Events before the District Contest for each Province or State such as: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Montana, and Northern Wyoming.
Regional Contests
- From Donna Timmerman, Billings MT
- Montana Regional Oratorical Contest
- April 20 at 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
- "Lillis Center on the St. John's Lutheran Ministries Campus"
- 2429 Mission Way (corner of Shiloh and Poly). Billings MT
- Look for the building with a cross on the top (chapel). We will be on the lower level (use the lower parking Lot).
Oratorical Contest Quick Links
Students
The deadline to enter is determined by the sponsoring Optimist Club. All Club-level contests are typically held by late March.
Clubs and Districts
The District deadline to submit winners to Optimist International is June 15, 2013. Optimist International does not set Club/Zone/Regional deadlines.
For an application with contest rules, click here.
The Optimist Oratorical Contest gives youngsters the chance to speak to the world. More than $150,000 in college scholarships funded by the Optimist International Foundations is awarded annually from this program.
First conducted in 1928, this is the second most popular Optimist International Program. Nearly 2,000 clubs participate in this program each year. The winners at the Club level receive medallions and Zone winners receive a plaque. Districts have the opportunity to provide two $2,500 scholarships or a first place scholarship of $2,500, a second place scholarship of $1,500, and a third place scholarship of $1,000.
Information for Optimist Members planning the contest:
All Members can now view and conveniently print planning pages for any International Program from your home computer. Click here to view the 2012-2013 Club Oratorical Contest Planning Guide. Click here to view the 2012-2013 District Oratorical Contest Planning Pages. Click here for information about the Kids Speak Out contest. To view the planning pages for any of the International Programs and Community Activities, please visit the forms and publications page.
Oratorical Contest Package - A Program Package for the contest is available by clicking here. Clubs can find useful materials to help them get started with the scholarship contest.
Support merchandise for this program can be ordered through Optimist Supply for US and Caribbean Clubs and from OptiPromo for Canadian Clubs. Contact information for both supply companies can be found here.
For additional information, please contact the Optimist International Programs Department by e-mail at programs@optimist.org, or call (800) 500-8130.
Certificates of Participation
If your Club or District is sponsoring a contest, certificates of participation can be presented to all contestants.
Certificate for Club level
Certificate for District level
Publicize the Oratorical Contest
Optimist International has developed a series of news releases that Clubs and Districts can use in connection with their participation in international programs. Below are sample news releases that Clubs and Districts can use to promote the Oratorical Contest. Please note that the .doc version enables users to type their information into fields*, while the .pdf files are for viewing only.
Oratorical Contest - Prior to event (.doc)
Oratorical Contest - Prior to event (.pdf)
Oratorical Contest - After event (.doc)
Oratorical Contest - After event (.pdf)
