OPTIMIST ORATORICAL CONTEST

The Optimist Oratorical Contest gives students under the age of 19 as of October 1 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. Optimist International determines a new topic for each year’s oratorical contest.

Bismarck Optimist Club hosts its annual oratorical contest in the spring of each year and information regarding the oratorical contest is sent to all local public and private high schools. The first place contestant at our local club level is awarded $500 and represents our club at the District Oratorical Competition.

First place winner at the district level receives a $2,500 scholarship, second place is awarded a $1,500 scholarship and third place receives $1,000.

One Optimist District Winner competes at the Optimist Regional Contest for a chance to win a $5,000 scholarship. Each regional winner competes in the World Championship Contest for an opportunity to win a first, second or third place scholarship of $15,000, $10,000 or $5,000 respectively.

First conducted in 1928, this is the second most popular Optimist International Program with approximately 2,000 clubs participating in this program each year.