Thursday, March 19 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 “The Moment I Realized I Belonged —My Definition of Community” on March 19 at the Verona Senior Center at 6:30 p.m.
First place winner receives $200, Second place winner receives $150 and third place winner receives $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 12.
Rules are on the application and additional guidelines for participants are here.
Preparation Information
If you’d like guidelines or assistance preparing your speech, email jfarritor@gmail.com by March 8 to receive additional information.
What happens after the club contest?:
Zone 6 competition is April 19 at 3:30 PM 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 16 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
March 12 deadline to submit application and written draft of speech to veronaoptimists@gmail.com
March 19 @ 6:30 PM
Verona Optimist Oratorical Competition (Verona Senior Center)
April 19 @ 3:30 PM
Zone 6 Optimist Oratorical Competition (Verona Senior Center)
May 16 District Contest ($2,500, $1,500, $1,000 scholarships)
District 9 Southern Wisconsin Oratorical Competition (location TBD)
July 16 Regional (Great Plains Contest $5,000 scholarship) in St. Louis
July 17 World Championship Contest ($15,000, $10,000, $5,000) in St. Louis