Student Wins Optimist Oratorical District Competition

by Paul Grant, Avon Optimist Club

Avon High School student Calleigh Neal advanced to the Indiana South District Optimist Oratorical Finals based on her presentation on the topic of 'How to Change the World with Optimism'.

The North Regional was held at the Plainfield Public Library on March 10. Calleigh will move on to the District finals (to be held at Kimball International Headquarters, 1600 Royal Street in Jasper, Indiana, on April 13) with the chance to win a $2,500 scholarship and advance to the Optimist International Regional/World Championship at Saint Louis University. Students could possibly win up to $22,500 in scholarships!

Congratulations, Calleigh!

About Optimist Club of Avon

The Optimist Club of Avon has been participating in the Optimist Oratorical & Essay Contests for many years and has been active in the community since 1959. Other programs and service projects that the Club participates in include the Central Indiana Woodworkers, Handicapable Camp, Distinguished Young Women, Junior World Golf, and others. The Club offers a $2,000 Scholarship for students seeking a two-year or vocational degree. They also support several organizations in the Avon community.

Optimist International is one of the world’s largest service club organizations with over 80,000 adult and youth members in almost 3,000 clubs in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, and throughout the world. The Optimist Oratorical Contest is one of the organization’s most popular programs, with more than 2,000 clubs participating annually. Carrying the motto “Bringing Out the Best in Youth, in our Communities, and in Ourselves,” Optimists conduct positive service projects that reach more than six million young people each year. To learn more about Optimist International, please call (314) 371-6000; visit optimist.org or contact Paul Grant.