The Mansfield Noon Optimist Club is encouraging Richland County students to contemplate the phrase “Is Optimism the Key to Achieving the Dreams You Imagine?” as part of the Optimist International Essay Contest for the 2019-2020 school year.
The Optimist Club will judge the local students’ essays and determine the top placers. Winners will receive $1,000 in scholarship funds and a winning essay will be sent to the district level where additional college scholarship funds are available for top winners.
Last year, three local students were winners in the local contest, each receiving an essay contest medallion and a monetary award. One winner’s essay is also sent to the Ohio District level. Students whose essay makes it to the Ohio District level could win a scholarship of $3,500, and the International level scholarship award is $22,500.
The essay, which should be 700 to 800 words in length, must be submitted by February 1, 2020. To participate, a student must be under 19 years old as of October 1, 2019. Students wishing to participate in the essay contest can find out more about the contest and the qualifications by contacting the Mansfield Noon Optimist Club directly or calling Richland Henson, Essay Chairman, at 419-709-8009. Applications should also be available from the guidance office of most local schools.
The Mansfield Noon Optimist Club has been active in the community since October 1923. Optimist International is one of the world’s largest service club organization with 80,000 adult and youth members in 2,500 clubs in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, and throughout the world. Carrying the motto “Friend of Youth,” Optimists conduct positive service projects that reach more than six million young people each year. To learn more about Optimist International, please call (314) 371-6000 or visit the organization’s website at www.optimist.org.
