Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club announced details for its annual oratorical contest.
It will take place March 30 at the Kosciusko County courthouse, old court room, second floor, 100 W. Center St., Warsaw. Doors open at 12:30 p.m., with the contest starting at 1 p.m.
First and second place qualify for the Zone Contest. Scholarship prizes for advancement in the national contest.
The topic for the oratorical contest is “The Moment I Realized I Belonged, My Definition of Community.”
First conducted in 1928, this is the second most popular Optimist International Program, according to a provided news release. Nearly 2,000 clubs participate in this program each year. The winners at the club level receive medallions and a cash prize and Zone winners receive a plaque. Districts have the opportunity to provide a first-place scholarship of $2,500, a second-place scholarship of $1,500 and a third-place scholarship of $1,000.
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.
Youth under the age of 19 as of Oct. 1, 2026 (and is not enrolled as a degree seeking student of a post-secondary institution) in the United States, Canada or the Caribbean may enter the contest. There is no minimum age.
To enter, contact Letrecia Nichols at 574-265-5632 or via email at lnichols@joes-kids.org; or Jeff Owens at 574-527-1387 or via email at contest@jeffowens.net.
The deadline to enter is March 28, 2026, or when 20 entries have been received by the sponsoring Optimist Club.
