Thursday, March 20 at 6:30 p.m.
Verona Senior Center, 108 Paoli St Verona
Speak On Optimism to Win up to $200 cash and Qualify for up to $22,500 in Scholarships!
2023 Oratorical Contest Participants – left to right Caelyn Weaver, Benjamin Aizicovici Brown, Justine Diegel, Ella Farritor (1st place), Aariya Gopal (2nd place), Ava Bogen (3rd place)
Youth under age 19 will present a 4-5 minute speech on the topic “How Optimism Has Guided Me Through Trying Times” on March 20 at the Verona Senior Center at 6:30 p.m.
First place winner receives a medal and $200, Second place winner receives a medal and $150 and third place winner receives a medal and $100. First and second place winners advance to additional levels of the competition to compete for scholarships.
Submit your application and written draft of your speech to veronaoptimists@gmail.com by March 13.
Rules are on the application and additional guidelines for participants are here.
Free Preparation Workshop
If you’d like assistance preparing your speech, join Verona Optimists from 3-4:30 p.m. on Sundays, February 23 & March 9 at the Senior Center. Email permission form to jfarritor@gmail.com by February 22 to register for the workshop.
What happens after the club contest?:
Zone 6 competition is April 12 at 10:00 AM at the Verona Senior Center The Verona contest 1st and 2nd place winners will compete against the winners from the other clubs in the zone currently anticipated to be Cross-Plains/Middleton and Sauk Trails clubs.
Zone 6 1st and 2nd place winners will compete in the District Scholarship Competition on May 17 for a chance to win $2,500 for first prize, $1,500 for second, and $1,000 for third. The district 1st place winner then advances to compete at the Optimist International levels beginning with the Regional level for a chance to win up to an additional $20,000 in scholarships!
SUMMARY OF KEY DATES:
February 22 deadline to sign up for prep workshop email permission form to jfarritor@gmail.com
February 23 3-4:30 p.m. Prep workshop at Verona Senior Center
March 9 3-4:30 p.m. Prep workshop at Verona Senior Center
March 13 deadline to submit application and written draft of speech to veronaoptimists@gmail.como
March 20 @ 6:30 PM
Verona Optimist Oratorical Competition (Verona Senior Center)
April 12 @ 10:00 AM
Zone 6 Optimist Oratorical Competition (Verona Senior Center)
May 17 District Contest ($2,500, $1,500, $1,000 scholarships)
District 9 Southern Wisconsin Oratorical Competition (location TBD)
July 17 Regional (Great Plains Contest $5,000 scholarship) in St. Louis
July 18 World Championship Contest ($15,000, $10,000, $5,000) in St. Louis