How To Enter: PLEASE, contact your local Henderson Optimist Club.

This is the fourth most popular program among Optimists with over 1,200 Clubs participating in 2003-2004. 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 win college scholarship money. The Henderson Optimist Club first place winner will receive $150; second place receives $100.00, and third place wins $50.00.

The guidelines require that contestants be under age 19 as of December 31st of the 2008-2009 school year. Club winners advance to the District contest to compete for a $650 college scholarship.  The N. C. East District winner is automatically entered into the International Essay contest where a panel of judges select the top three essays. Scholarships are awarded as follows: first place-$6,000; second place-$3,750; and third place-$2,250.

Click here, Essay Winner, to read the 2006-2007 North Carolina East Winning Essay by Henderson's Kathleen Carswell. You will need Adobe Acrobat to open the document.

For a copy of the Application and the Contest Rules, Click on the this link: 

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

Essays for the Optimist Club of Henderson must be postmarked to the contact person listed below (Cheryl Modjoros-Elman) by Monday, February 22, 2010.

The deadline for entries to the NC East District Essay Contest must be postmarked by February 28, 2010, to Yancey Hines (See below.)