The two Forsyth County Optimist Clubs are honored to conduct an annual oratorical contest.  This program is offered to all Forsyth County students in grades 5 through 12. Students create and present a speech based on a specific topic. Topic for the 2023-2024 school year is: “How to change the world with Optimism” For sometime our program has been the largest Optimist Oratorical in the world.  A Forsyth County winner, Charlie Dougal, from our 2015-2016 contest went on to win the zone, area and district (GA and TN) contests and competed in the regional contest.  2016-2017 saw another Forsyth County winner, Vinayak Menon of Riverwatch Middle School advance to the regional contest.  In 2022 our Forsyth County Student Samiksha Gaherwar won 1st place at the World Champions with a scholarship of $15,000 and the World Regional Champions for another $5,000. We are grateful to the parents, school coordinators and principals for their participation and support in helping us bringing out the best in our kids. Here is last years winner from our Gateway District:

To view which of the two Forsyth County Optimist club is coordinating a specific school, please open the Oratorical Principal Letter attached for 2024/ blue link below School Coordinators should be aware of the following dates and locations: All contests this year will be held in the Academies of Creative Education in the Media Center on the Third Floor. Address is 1160 Dahlonega Highway, Cumming, Ga. 30040. The building is just past the new FoCAL building. 2022-2023 Oratorical Principal Letter – Friday, February 3, 2024 – turn in participants and School winners name, birth certificate and information as soon as your contest is complete, but no later than 2/22/2024 – Wednesday, February 15, 2024 – Middle and High School winner’s application and copy of birth certificate must be emailed to Carolynn Martin. All contests for our club (Sawnee-Cumming Optimist Club) will be held February 26 – March 7 (contestants should sign in no later than 5:30 pm) – Monday, February 26 (Elementary Semi Finals) – Monday, March 4 (Elementary Finals) – Wednesday, February 28 (Middle/High Semi Finals) – Wednesday, March 7 (Middle/High Finals) Contact: Carolynn Martin carolynncmartin@gmail.com 770-402-8689 All contests for the morning club (Forsyth County Optimist Club) will be held February 27 – March 9 (contestants should sign in no later than 5:30 pm) – Tuesday, February 27 (Elementary Semi Finals) – Thursday, February 29 (Elementary Finals) – Tuesday, March 5 (Middle/High Semi Finals) – Thursday, March 7 (Middle/High Finals) Contact: Joyce Mullins nancyjoyce.mullins@gmail.com 678-570-7002 Gateway District Winner submissions due Date will be after March 7th final Oratorical Contest is completed for each Club. The two Middle/High School Forsyth County winners will each receive $500 and advance to the Zone contest.  The Zone Contest must be completed by March 24, 2024 and winner submitted to Gateway District Advancement. The Area contest must be completed by April 8, 2024 and winner submitted to Gateway District Advancement . District Contest: will be held at the 3rd Quarter Conference April 27, 2024 – the three winners will be awarded scholarships of $2,500, $1,500 and $1,000 respectively for first, second and third place. The Regional and International World Championship contests will be held at St. Louis University in St. Louis, MO on July 18-19, 2024.  The Optimist International World Championship winners will receive scholarships in the amounts of $15,000, $10,000, and $5,000 to the first, second, and third place winners, respectively. World Championship winner will receive a $15,000

• 2023 Championship in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd followed by Regional Winners.
  
  

  • Sarah-Claude Simard Optimiste Francophone Canadien Winner $5,000 & 1st Place World Winner $15,000

  • Sav Jordan Middle American Regional Winner $5,000 & 2nd Place World Winner $10,000

  • Shad McMillan SouthEast Regional Winner $5,000 & 3rd Place World Winner $5,000

  • Deborah Koko Northeast & Great Lakes Regional Winner $5,000

  • Lily Breyer Great Plains Regional Winner $5,000

  • Smith Galvin Mid-Atlantic Regional Winner $5,000

  • Mary Lou Cavanna ) Southwest Regional Winner $5,000

  • Ty Whitman West Coast Regional Winner $5,000

  • Sizen Karki Global Regional Winner $5,000

The Oratorical Chairs are:

• Carolynn Martin CarolynnCMartin@gmail.com 770-402-8689
• Monica Hawkins

You may leave a message for them at our club voicemail – 770-402-8689.

© Copyright 2024 – Sawnee-Cumming Optimist Club