The Eden Prairie Optimist Club will hold its annual Oratorical Contest at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, at Star Bank, 250 Prairie Center Drive, Eden Prairie.
The competition is open to high school students younger than 19 as of Oct. 1, 2024. Participants will deliver a speech on this year’s theme: “How Optimism Has Guided Me Through Trying Times.”
The contest provides students with an opportunity to develop public speaking skills and compete for Barnes & Noble gift cards and medallions. The first- and second-place winners will advance to the Zone Contest on April 12 in Eagan, with a chance to move on to the District Contest in Watertown, South Dakota. There, students will compete for a $2,500 college scholarship. Winners at the District level may ultimately qualify for the World Championship at Saint Louis University, where students could earn up to $22,500 in scholarships.
“As they prepare for their future, many of our local students need experience expressing their thoughts and opinions to an audience,” said event chair Ryan Affolter. “The Oratorical Contest challenges them to do just that and also offers an opportunity for scholarships. In this way, our club hopes to bring out the best in each of them and help them achieve their goals for the future.”
Students interested in participating must submit an application form as soon as possible to ryanaffolter.optimist@gmail.com to secure a spot. The application and full contest rules can be found at tinyurl.com/Oratorical2025.
The Eden Prairie Optimist Club has supported youth programs in the community since 1978 and has participated in the Optimist International Oratorical Contest for more than 30 years. Other club programs include scholarships, youth crime prevention initiatives, and the annual Essay Contest.
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