Oratorical Contest

“How Optimism Has Guided Me
Through Trying Times”

The Optimist International Oratorical Contest is open to students who have not reached the age of 19 before October 1, 2024, and are not enrolled as a degree seeking student of a post-secondary institution or have not won the OI Regional Contest in St Louis. There is no minimum age for contestants. All contests will be combined gender. 

Each contestant will prepare a 4-5 minute speech on the topic: “How Optimism Has Guided Me Through Trying Times”. All contestants must speak on the 2024-25 topic. Any quotation, copyrighted, or largely paraphrased material used in the speech must be identified verbally during the presentation and in the written copy of the speech with the original author’s name. During the speech, no reference can be made that identifies the contestant, parents, school, community, sponsoring Optimist Club or District. Full contest rules are included in the 2024-25 Optimist International Oratorical Contest Application. 

All 2025 Oratorical Contest participants must start by competing in a local Optimist Club contest. Club contests typically take place during the month of March and all Club contests for this year’s event must be completed on or before March 24, 2025. Clubs will send their 1st and 2nd place winners to the Regional Contest. The Regional Contests will be held via Zoom on April 12, 2025. 1st , 2nd and 3rd place Regional winners will then go to the District Finals being held on April 26,2025 at Family Resource Pavilion, 9700 E Easter Ln, Centennial, CO 80112.  The District’s 1st place winner will receive a $2,500 scholarship and then will be able to go to the Regional/World Championships Contest at St Louis University in St Louis, MO to compete for an additional $20,000 in scholarships.  2nd place District winner will receive a $1,500 scholarship and 3rd place District winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

For in depth information on the Optimist Oratorical Contest check out  Guidelines for Oratorical Contest Participants 

For more information or help determining your local Optimist Club Oratorical Contest location please contact the CO-WY Optimist District Oratorical Contest Chairperson.