WARSAW — For almost 90 years, Optimist International has sponsored a speech contest for youth. This year, local clubs are teaming up to bring the contest to Warsaw again. The Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club and the Warsaw Noon Optimist Club are co-sponsoring this oratorical contest where local youth can win prizes and move on to higher levels of competition where they may be eligible to win scholarships up to $2,500.

The Oratorical Contest is open to all youth 17 years and younger as of Oct.1. Participants must prepare and deliver an original 4 to 5 minute speech on the topic selected by Optimist International. The topic for this year’s competition is, “Where are My Roots of Optimism?” This year’s competition will be held in the “Little Theatre” on the campus of Grace College at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28.

It is actually two contests in one. On the local level, there will be first, second and third place finishers who will receive local prizes including an iPad Mini w/ case, an Altair RC Quadcopter Camera Drone and a JBL Flip 4 Bluetooth Speaker with case. On the district level, first and second place recognition will go to the top two male and top two female contestants who will receive medallions and be eligible to compete in the next stage of the contest.

For a complete list of contest rules and an application for the contest, please visit the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club website at www.warsawoptimist.organd click the link at the top of the page for “2018 Oratorical Contest”. While there is no fee to enter, only the first 20 completed applications will be accepted with the deadline for submission being Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018.

Optimist Clubs exist “to aid and encourage the development of youth in the belief that the giving of one’s self in service to others will advance the well-being of humankind, community life and the world.” To learn more about local Optimist Clubs, be the club’s guest at one of its upcoming meetings. The Breakfast Optimists meet in the Shrine Building at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds on Wednesday mornings with breakfast served at 6:30 a.m. and the meeting starting at 7 a.m. The Noon Optimists meet in the Alpha Dining Commons on the campus of Grace College at noon on Mondays.