OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL ESSAY CONTEST

Topic for the 2024-2025 school year is: "How Optimism Has Paved My Road to Success” 
Who: The contest is open to contestants under the age of 19 as of October 1st of the current Optimist International contest year (October 1 – September 30) and who have not yet completed secondary school or its equivalent, including CEGEP students in Québec, Canada. There is no minimum age. Students must enter in the District in which they reside. U.S. students attending school on military installations outside the U.S. are eligible to enter in their last home of record.

How To Enter: Interested students must contact their local Optimist Club. They need to submit an essay on the pre-assigned topic. To find out a contact, please e-mail the Programs Department at [email protected].

The Essay Contest planning pages are intended for use by Optimist Clubs in organizing and conducting a contest in their Club. They contain no information on entering the contest and are of no use to students wishing to enter the contest. Students must contact their local Optimist Club.

When:
  • Students
    All Club-level contests are held by early February. Student submissions will not be accepted after the Club-level contests have closed. Please contact your District Chair for more information.
  • Clubs and Districts
    The deadline for Clubs to submit their winning essay to the District Chair is February 28, 2025. The deadline for Districts to submit their winner’s information to Optimist International is April 15, 2025. Club winners advance to the District contest to compete for a $2,500 college scholarship. The District-level scholarships are funded by the Optimist International Foundations.

The Essay Contest is sponsored by Optimist International to give young people the opportunity to write about their own opinions regarding the world in which they live. The approach can encompass a young person’s personal experience, the experience of their country or a more historical perspective. In additional to developing skills for written expression, participants also have the opportunity to win a college scholarship!

Club winners advance to the District contest to compete for a $2,500 college scholarship. The District-level scholarships are funded by the Optimist International Foundations.

Information for Optimist Members planning the contest:


Club Essay Planning Guide
District Essay Planning Guide

Essay Contest Package - A Program Package for the Essay Contest is available on the Package Programs page of the website. On that page, Clubs can find useful materials to help them get started with a new Essay Contest program.

Support merchandise for this program can be ordered through Shumsky for US and Caribbean Clubs and from Ansell's Awards and Specialties for Canadian Clubs. Contact information for both supply companies can be found here.

To enter, you must contact your local Optimist Club!

For additional information, please contact Optimist International Programs Department by e-mail at [email protected], or call (800) 500-8130.

Certificates of Participation
If your Club or District is sponsoring a contest, certificates of participation can be presented to all contestants.


Certificate for Club level
Certificate for Region/Zone level
Certificate for District level

Publicize the Essay Contest
Optimist International has developed a series of news releases that Clubs and Districts can use in connection with their participation in international programs. Below are sample news releases that Clubs and Districts can use to promote their Essay Contests.


Essay Contest - Prior to event (.doc)
Essay Contest - After event (.doc)
District Essay Contest - After event (.doc)
Picture
2024 - 2025 - Essay Chairperson - Charlotte Harris

​ESSAY CONTEST QUICK LINKS