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 a college scholarship of up to $5,000! The essay contest awards $44,000 annually in scholarships.

The guidelines require that contestants be under age 19 as of December 31 of the 2005-2006 school year. Club winners advance to the District contest to compete for a $650 college scholarship.  Each 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-$5,000; second place-$3,000; and third place-$2,000.