The Centerville Noon Optimist Club supports Optimist International by conducting the annual Margaret Barclay Memorial Oratorical Contest. This contest provides an excellent opportunity for students to develop important public speaking skills. Any student is eligible to participate who is under the age of 19 as of October 1st, lives in Centerville/Washington Township and/or attends Centerville City Schools, Incarnation Catholic School, Alter High School, Miami Valley School, Spring Valley Academy, or Dayton Christian School.
The contest will be held 2/7/2023 and 2/21/2023 at 12:00pm (arrive 11:50am) at Yankee Trace Golf Club. Contestants deliver a speech between four and five minutes in length on the assigned topic at regular club meetings in February. Winners from the Club contests advance to the Zone competition, and then may advance to the finals at the District levels (District Regionals and Great Ohio District). At the Great Ohio District level, one winner will receive a $3,500 scholarship, second place will receive a $2,000 scholarship, and third place will receive a $1,500 scholarship. The Winner, sponsored by the Great Ohio District, will advance to the World Championships in St. Louis in July 2023, for an opportunity to earn scholarships of $15,000, $10,000, and $5,000.
The topic for 2023, determined by Optimist International, is “Discovering the Optimism within Me.”
For inspiration, visit the Optimist International Oratorical World Championship.