Optimist Club student essay contest

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By Lisa Justice The Optimist Club of Clarendon is encouraging area students to contemplate the phrase “When All the World’s Problems are Solved, is Optimism Still Necessary?” as part of the Optimist International Essay Contest for the 2018-2019 school year. The Optimist Club will judge the local students’ essays, based on this theme, and will determine the top winners. Winners will receive cash awards from $50-$100, and the winning essay will be sent to the district level where college scholarships are available for top winners. “Young students today have so many fresh ideas about the world and their future,” Club President Brittany Tindal said. “As Optimists, it is our goal to encourage them and do what we can to bring out the best in each of them. This gives them a wonderful opportunity to tap into their creativity and pursue possible scholarships at the same time.” The Optimist Club of Clarendon has been participating in the Optimist Essay Contest for two years and has been active in the community since May 2017. Other programs and service projects that the Club is involved in include Breakfast with Santa, volunteering at Birdfest and Special Olympics and sponsoring local children to attend Camp Woodie or local families at Christmas and in times of crisis. The club has an ongoing fundraiser, the Optimist Outlet, located inside Bonanza Flea Market in Jordan. “We take donations of household items and clothing, organize them in our space like a thrift store and use the proceeds from purchases to support our community work,” says Tindal. Students wishing to participate in the essay contest can find out more by contacting event chair Lisa Justice at (803) 473-2531 or checking the club’s Facebook page for entry forms. All submissions are due by Friday, February 15. Optimist International is one of the world’s largest service club organizations with 80,000 adult and youth members in 2,500 clubs in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico and throughout the world. Carrying the motto “Friend of Youth,” 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 or visit the organization’s website at www.optimist.org.