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The Van Wert Optimist Club's annual oratorical contest was held on Mar. 5 at CHP Home Care & Hospice addressing the topic, "How Optimism Has Guided Me Through Trying Times." This year's winners are Ben Verville, a sophomore from Van Wert High School, and Jessica Faller and Nora Linton, eighth graders from Lincolnview Jr. High. Theo Anderson, Josilyn Neiberg, Bella Mosier, Dimitri Linser, and Quinn Kiracofe also represented Lincolnview Jr. High. The top two move on to the zone competition for the opportunity to compete for scholarships in the district and possibly, national, and international contests through Optimist International.

The annual Van Wert Optimist Club Oratorical Contest is set for Wednesday, Mar. 5, 2025, 6 p.m., at CHP Home Care & Hospice. Van Wert County students will present a 4–5-minute speech on the topic, “How Optimism Has Guided Me Through Trying Times." Students under age 19 as of Oct. 1, 2024, are eligible to participate. There is no minimum age. Prizes of $300, $200, and $100 will be awarded for the top three contestants with the chance to move on and win scholarships of $2,500 up to $22,500.  Deadline to enter is Feb. 28. Click HERE to download an application.

Clayton Priest, a senior at Lincolnview High School was the winner of the Ohio District – Optimist International Oratorical Contest last weekend in Columbus, receiving a $3,500 scholarship and the opportunity to participate in the 2024 Optimist International Oratorical World Championships in St. Louis in July. Priest began his journey of competing through the various levels of Optimist speech competitions by winning the local Optimist Club of Van Wert contest on February 29. From there, he won the zone competition at Findlay in April and the regional contest held in Lima last month. Last weekend at the Ohio District Competiton, he bested regional winners from throughout the state to be the sole representative for Ohio in the national competition. Priest will compete next at the Optimist Regional Contest at Saint…

The Optimist Club of Van Wert held its annual oratorical contest on Feb. 29 at CHP Home Care & Hospice in Van Wert. Ten students from Crestview, Lincolnview, and Van Wert schools presented speeches on the topic, “How to Change the World with Optimism.”  Clayton Priest, a senior from Lincolnview, earned first place in the contest. Annabel Horstman, an eighth grader at Lincolnview, earned second place, and Nora Linton, a seventh grader at Lincolnview was third. These students receive medallions and prize money of $300 for first place, $200 for second, and $100 for third. Priest and Horstman will advance to the zone/regional contest. From there, contestants could move on to the district (state), and possibly national and international levels, for the opportunity to win college scholarships. Students were judged…