The theme was “Discovering the Optimism Within Me,” and the award came with a $300 prize. Contest sponsors include Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union, Wolverine State Credit Union, Northland Area Federal Credit Union, and Alpena Agency.

Taylor will be sent to the zone level to compete against winners from other Optimist Clubs in the area. The winner of the zone competition will move on to the district level for the chance to win a scholarship. Then, from there, the winner will move on to the regional and world championship for a chance to win an additional $5,000 or up to another $15,000 scholarship.

“Maddison Taylor did a wonderful job presenting her speech about the questions posed to her,” said Optimist Club of Alpena President Beckie Thomson. “The members of our Optimist Club have no doubt that Maddison Taylor has a bright future ahead of her.”

Two additional students placed in the contest, with seventh-grader Kianna Caraveau earning second place, and sixth-grader Addison Kolson placing third. Those students earned $200, and $100, respectively.

Courtesy Photo Above are the first, second, and third-place winners of the Optimist Club of Alpena oratorical contest. From left to right are first-place winner Maddison Taylor, second-place winner Kianna Caraveau, and third-place winner Addison Kolson.

The Optimist Club of Alpena has been participating in the Optimist oratorical contest for over 50 years. The Alpena club has been active in the community since 1959. Other programs and service projects that the Optimist Club is involved in include Free Family Fun Spring Break Day, which will be held Tuesday at the Alpena County Fairgrounds. The Optimist Club also supports the Cancer Fund at MyMichigan Health, Kids’ Fishing Day at the Michigan Brown Trout Festival, Optimist Scholarships, the Rubber Ducky Race, the essay contest, and many more.

Optimist International is one of the world’s largest service club organizations, with over 80,000 adult and youth members in almost 3,000 clubs in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, and worldwide. The Optimist Club oratorical contest is one of the organization’s most popular programs, with more than 2,000 clubs participating annually.

Carrying the motto, “Bringing Out the Best in Youth, in our Communities, and in Ourselves,” 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 optimist.org.