Optimist Club of Coronado to Sponsor Oratorical Contest

“To be, or not to be…” famously spoke Hamlet. Local Coronado students can earnestly speak their thoughts on the topic, What the World Gains from Optimism, as participants in the 2017 Optimist International Oratorical Contest sponsored by the Optimist Club of Coronado.

The Oratorical Contest gives students an opportunity to organize and present their ideas and opinions to an audience, a valuable life skill. The Optimist Club of Coronado has been sponsoring the Oratorical Contest each year since 1971 helping to bring out the best in our students.

This year’s contest will be held in the Winn Room at the Coronado Library on Wednesday, March 22nd at 3:30 p.m. Judges will assess the students’ 4 – 5 minute speeches based on content, presentation, poise, and overall effectiveness. The top three students receive medallions and cash awards. The top two students have the opportunity to compete at the zone level contest in April; the zone winners will then compete at the California-South District level for the opportunity to win college scholarships.

Coronado students, including home-schooled students, under the age of 18 as of October 1, 2016 are eligible to participate and encouraged to apply. Application forms and contest rules are available online and from Gene Rathswohl, the contest coordinator, at erathswohl@san.rr.com. Completed application forms should be either emailed or mailed to Gene Rathswohl, 924 Eighth St., Coronado, CA 92118. Applications must be received by Tuesday, March 14th. A maximum of 20 students can participate, so the earlier an application is submitted the better. Contact Gene with any questions regarding the contest rules.

Optimist International is one of the world’s largest service club organizations with over 75,000 adult and youth members in 2,600 clubs in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and throughout the world. Carrying the motto, “Bringing Out the Best in Kids” Optimists conduct positive service projects that reach more than six million young people each year. To learn more about the Optimist Club of Coronado, visit our web site, come to a weekly Thursday morning meeting at 7:00 AM at the Community Center, or contact any member of the club.