Essay Contest

2024 Essay Contest - UPDATED 10/06/2023
 
Topic for the 2023-2024 school year is: "Optimism: How it Connects Us” 
 
Click on Flyer for more information: Flyer

Who is eligible: Local Clarkston area students (public and private) under the age of 19 as of October 1, 2023 (and have not yet graduated high school). There is no minimum age.

How-To-Enter: Interested students must submit an essay, on the assigned topic to the Clarkston Area Optimist Club no later than January 31st, 2024.

Completed essays, can be emailed to: [email protected] or mailed to: Clarkston Area Optimist Club, PO Box 891, Clarkston, MI 48347

Deadline: The deadline for submitting an essay, on the assigned topic is: 01/31/2024.  Submissions will not be accepted after this date.

The 2024 Essay Contest Application can be downloaded here: Application

When: Our local Club-level contest is finalized in February of  2024. 

Our local Club member judges read every submitted essay and award winners for first, second and third place. These local awards are $250, $150 and $100 respectively, funded by the Clarkston Area Optimist Club.

These top-three winners will be asked to attend a Clarkston Area Optimist Club meeting, held locally here in Clarkston in February, to read their essay to the Club members and to receive their award.

Our local Clarkston Club winner will advance to the District Level contest to compete for a $2,500, a $1,500 or a $1,000 college scholarship for first, second and third place respectively. The District-level scholarships are funded by the Optimist International Foundation.

From the Optimist International website:
"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!