
Scholarship contest topics are generally released in late July for the coming school year. They are published here when available.
All contests begin at the club level. Students, please locate a club using the directory to the right of this page. Find out more about the contests from Optimist International.
The Optimist International Essay Contest takes place between September and February. The official topic for 2020-2021 is "Reaching your Dreams by Choosing Optimism." Download the entry form.
Optimist International partnered with St. Louis University to expand the Oratorical Contest in 2016. This year, in the fourth year of the partnership, we expect it to improve even more! District winners will compete on an international stage where they have the opportunity to win up to $22,500 in scholarship money.