Photography Contest for Students

Photographers for the contest should be students at any
age up through high school and prior to post-secondary
education. Students are asked to submit photos that
illustrate/exemplify one of the ten verses/lines of “The
Optimist Creed”. This contest’s purpose is to expose young
people to “The Optimist Creed” and our philosophy of
Optimism and to assist them with developing an interest
in the area of photography.

The GATEway District will hold the district contest at our August convention, with attendees voting for the district winners .  Clubs please try to have your contests finished prior to schools letting out for the summer, ( while still in contact with students).

*The rules give a lot of latitude to how clubs can hold their contest and what prizes they want to award .  Our district is allotting the same amount of prize money as last year: $125 for first place , $75 for 2nd , and $50 for 3rd  .

Clubs can contact Alan Flint, Activities Chair, with any questions: aflint@buckjones.com

Win a Scholarship in Public Speaking!

THE OLDEST AND BEST CONTEST OF OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL 

Topic:  “Discovering the Optimism within Me”

District Contest Chair: Richard Bracknell  

                                                     Email: Richard.Bracknell@carrolltoncityschools.net
                                                     Phone: 770 314 2425

Congratulations to our international winner! The Seventh Annual Optimist International World Championships took place at St. Louis University on July 21-22, 2022. Samiksha Gaherwar participated in the contest as the Oratorical winner from the GATEway District. Samiksha graduated from Lambert High School in Suwanee, Georgia and was the Valedictorian. She plans to attend Princeton University. She has been participating the the oratorical contest for 8 years.

The Oratorical Contest last year in the GATEway District was a near record winner with more clubs and contestants. It was an event that showed hope in our youth and dedication in our clubs. We look forward to yet a better contest this year.  Our goal is to have 40 Clubs participate this year. Start now preparing for your club to send two contestants (gender neutral) up the “Oratorical Ladder” with the opportunity to win $22,500 in scholarships.  Look to the District announcements for information and come to the District meetings to gather insight, suggestions, and hear of the joy of doing this for our kids!  

The deadlines for the contest are: 

Local Club contest winners received by the Lt. Governors:  March 3, 2023

Zone contest:  March 24, 2023

Area contest: April 8, 2023

District Contest:  April 22, 2023

Again, we look forward, WITH YOUR HELP, having another record breaking year in both participants and clubs.  

The contest is open to students under the age of 19 by October 1, 2022. Students must enter in the District in which they reside.

Your next step?   Online Info: Planning Guide, application, and contest rules can be accessed: click on this link to the OI website.

Download: the Application and Contest Rules form, click here.

GATEway Optimists