Application (Access Here) and essay must be submitted to veronaoptimists@gmail.com or delivered to below address by no later than February 5, 2024.
(Note application requires a signature from a parent/guardian)
Students will submit an original essay (700-800 words) on the topic
“Optimism: How It Connects Us”
Contest is for high school or middle school students in Verona area
1st place $200
2nd place $150
3rd place $100
Winners will be announced and medals and cash prizes distributed
February 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Verona Senior Center
The 1st place essay will also be submitted to the Southern Wisconsin District Contest for the opportunity to win a college scholarship.
Students could win a $2,500 in scholarship
The contest is open to students who have not finished high school or its equivalent, are under the age of 19 and have not entered another Optimist essay contest this year.
Contest Rules
- Participants must write on the official contest topic.
- Each entry must begin with a title page containing topic, number of words, writer’s name, address, phone number, name of school and date of birth. (Do not include identifying info on any other page)
- The official topic should be at the top of title page and at the top of page 1. (Penalty of 3
pts) - The number of words must be listed on the top of page 1. (Penalty of 5 points).
- Essays must be typed, double-spaced and single-sided. (Deduction of 5 points per each
infraction – max. 15 pts.) - Essays must contain at least 700 words but no more than 800 words. Every word of the essay is
counted. This does not include the title, bibliography, or footnotes. Hyphenated words count as 1 word. (Deduction of 5 points for each 25 words over/under limit). Words are to be counted manually. - Each page of the essay must be numbered starting with page 1, not the title page. The numbers must be centered at the bottom of each page.
- Any quotations or copyrighted material used in the essay must be identified properly, using a recognized citation format. For example, identify use of a specific writer’s format (such as MLA, APA, Chicago-style). Failure to identify non-original material will result in disqualification.
- No reference can be made in the essay that identifies the contestant, parents, school, community,
sponsoring Optimist Club or District. (Deduction of 5 points or fraction based on degree of identification) - An essay should be written in English.
- If printed submission, the entry must be stapled together in the upper lefthand corner. Covers of any type are not accepted.
- Essay and application must be delivered to veronaoptimists@gmail.com or 485 Hillcrest Circle Verona, WI 53593 by no later than February 5, 2024. If mailing ensure post marked no later than January 30 to ensure delivery.
Scoring of Essay
- Material Organization (Logical interpretation of
the subject, adherence to topic): 30 points - Creativity – 15 points
- Vocabulary and Style (Phrasing and continuity):
30 points - Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling: 20 points
- Adherence to contest rules (prepared in the
proper format): 5 points – other penalities for length and other rules called out above in rules section