Thursday, January 12, 2012

Time for the Scholarship Contests

Optimist International Essay Contest 
The Essay Contest is sponsored by Optimist International to give young people the opportunity to write about their own opinions regarding the world in which they live. The approach can encompass a young person’s personal experience, the experience of their country or a more historical perspective. In additional to developing skills for written expression, participants also have the opportunity to win a college scholarship!
Topic: "How my Positive Outlook Benefits my Community”
Who: Youth under the age of 18 as of December 31 of the current school year (December 31, 2011) who have not yet graduated from high school or the equivalent.
How To Enter: Interested students must contact their local Optimist Club. They need to submit an essay on the pre-assigned topic.
When: All Club-level contests are held by early February. Student submissions will not be accepted after the Club-level contests have closed. The deadline for Clubs to submit their winning essay to the District Chair is February 28, 2012. The deadline for Districts to submit their winner’s information to Optimist International is April 15, 2012.

Source: http://www.optimist.org/e/member/scholarships3.cfm

Optimist International Oratorical Contest 
The Optimist Oratorical Contest gives youngsters the chance to speak to the world. 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 may 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.
Topic: "How my Optimism Helps me Overcome Obstacles"
Who: Students under the age of 18 years as of December 31 of the 2011-2012 school year (December 31, 2011) 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.
When: The deadline to enter is determined by the sponsoring Optimist Club. All Club-level contests are typically held by late March. The District deadline to submit winners to Optimist International is June 15, 2012. Optimist International does not set Club/Zone/Regional deadlines.

Source: http://www.optimist.org/e/member/scholarships4.cfm 

Communication Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CCDHH)
This contest offers an opportunity for children who are deaf or hard of hearing to present their thoughts in the community, gaining skills, which can only come from signing or speaking to a large audience. Patterned after the Optimist Oratorical Contest, the Communication Contest For the Deaf and Hard of Hearing offers hearing impaired youth the chance to compete in speech or sign language.
Topic: "How my Optimism Helps me Overcome Obstacles"
Who: The contest is open to young people through grade 12 in the United States and Canada, to CEGEP in Québec and grade 13 in the Caribbean, who are educated in the United States, Canada or the Caribbean.
How To Enter: Interested students should contact their local Optimist Club.
When: The deadline to enter is determined by the sponsoring Club. The deadline for Clubs to submit their winner to the next level of competition is set by the District. District deadline to submit a winner to Optimist International is June 15, 2012.

Source: http://www.optimist.org/e/member/scholarships2.cfm


Comments
These are very important activities in which to have our children and young people participate. Time is catching up on us very fast. With the extended Christmas and New Year holidays and all the other things that have been happening around us, it is easy for us to think that the year has just started; but we are already at week two in January 2012. So let's get cracking folks.

Please contact your District Chairs for further details and soon.

Essay: CP Claudette is at claudettefran@yahoo.com
Oratorical: CP Sonia is at sonia.barr@cwjamaica.com
CCDHH: CP Trevor is at rovertnoxid@yahoo.com

Caribbean District Zone 4 Optimists are harnessing the power of one.

No comments:

Post a Comment