Optimist Oratorical Contest Benefits Youth with Far More Than Scholarships (But the Scholarships Are Great Too)

by J. Ryne Danielson Communications Manager

The popular and long-running competition has been inspiring and challenging participants for nearly a hundred years. Since 1928, youth from across the country and around the world have been perfecting public-speaking skills while gaining confidence and exploring their own self-expression.

The contest gives students under the age of 19 the opportunity to share their views on a pre-assigned topic and compete for $315,000 in college scholarships funded by the Optimist International Foundation and Canadian Children’s Optimist Foundation.

For many students, scholarships can make all the difference in being able to afford a college education. But, for past participants, the contest was about far more than paying for books and classes.

The Optimist International Oratorical Contest allows youth to explore their passions and interests and refine their values, helps them cope with stress and anxiety and boost their self-esteem, and encourages them to grow into more authentic, well-rounded human beings.

According to psychologists, learning healthy ways of self-expression contributes to the development of emotional maturity and sense of identity, and it fosters creativity, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Personal development professionals also say public speaking is one of the best ways to advance academic and professional careers. It instills research skills, showcases expertise, strengthens critical thinking, and encourages engagement with unfamiliar ideas. Public speaking can also expand one’s social network, opening new avenues for growth and opportunities for support — at school, at work, and in one’s personal life.

“I was always a kid looking for a stage,” said past Club President James Patrick Schmidt, who participated in the contest in grade school. “The Oratorical Contest was the first time I realized that formal public speaking was my favorite place to perform.”

Though he never qualified for the District competition, Schmidt said he thrived within the contest’s structure, building a strong foundation for his future success and learning countless lessons.

“Of all the activities of my youth, public speaking is the one I constantly use to this day as a media strategist for a marketing agency and as a member of the local city council,” he said.

Sandi Cox is the West Missouri District Foundation Representative and a past District Governor. She said competing in the Oratorical Contest from 1972-1974 helped her overcome her fear of public speaking.

“I was in our local Oratorical Contest when I was in fifth, sixth, and seventh grade,” she said. “Back then, our community had a Sunrise and a Sunset Optimist Club. I remember a wonderful fella from the Sunset Club asked me if I would compete in the contest. The first year, I placed third, and I was so excited! The next year I placed second, and the third year, I won both the local contest and the Zone contest.”

Cox credits the contest with fostering the confidence to pursue her many goals in life.

“I displayed those trophies proudly for many years and probably still have them in a box somewhere!” she said. “I still think of that fella who first asked me to write that speech and I smile. That is something I hope all those who participate now can take with them too — good memories!”

Southwest Region OI Vice President-elect Kevin Ailara recalls participating in the Oratorical Contest when he was in fifth and sixth grade during the 1960s. The contest was then in its fourth decade.

“The first year, I was very nervous; no, terrified would be a better way to describe my feelings,” he said. “I really didn’t want to compete, but my teacher said I had prepared a good speech and that it would be easy for me to give it. Boy was she wrong!”

Ailara placed third that year but said he was happy with just getting through the speech without passing out.

“What really made me feel good deep down was the fact that I had done it in the first place,” he said. “I was shy as a youth but was confident of my ideas and thoughts. I just didn’t know how to deliver them.”

The second year was easier. Ailara was more relaxed, and he no longer feared talking in front of a large group of people.

“Participation in the contest showed me I could overcome my shyness and anxiety,” he said. “I had many opportunities throughout my years in school to give various speeches, and I was able to look back on my first experiences in the Oratorical Contest and realize I could do well despite my nervousness.”

Ailara has carried the confidence he gained from the competition with him his entire life, he said, and he strongly encourages today’s youth to give the contest a try.

“You may not be giving speeches the rest of your life, but it will give you a good perspective that will help you develop as an adult,” he said.

Indeed, one never knows where life will take them or how early experiences will shape a life’s trajectory. Dave Bruns is a perfect example.

Bruns served as President of Optimist International from 2015-2016 and led an effort to expand the Oratorical Contest into the World Championship that exists today. Little did he know in 1973 how the contest would shape his success, or how much of a role he would play in shaping its future.

“The contest gave me the confidence to prepare a speech and to stand up in front of a group of adults who were willing to listen to what I had to say,” Bruns said. “It also led me to pursue a legal career. As I look back over the years, I am so thankful to my parents and the other Optimists who took the time to introduce me to the world of public speaking.”

When Bruns stepped on stage in front of the Kansas City, Kansas, Optimist Club, it was the first time he had ever spoken in front of a large group.

“If my fellow contestants and I were not already nervous enough, we were told shortly before the contest began that it would be delayed so that U.S. Sen. Bob Dole could attend,” he said. “After the contest ended,

Sen. Dole met privately with the contestants and told us that he always felt a little nervous himself before speaking on the floor of the Senate or on television. To this day, I still have the certificate that Sen. Dole autographed for me, as well as the letter he sent me following the contest."

Now in its 95th year, the Oratorical Contest has continued only with the financial support of the Optimist International Foundation and its Canadian counterpart, the Canadian Children’s Optimist Foundation. The two foundations fund a total of $315,000 in scholarships: 48 District first-, second- and third-place scholarships of $2,500, $1,500, and $1,000, respectively; nine Regional $5,000 scholarships; and the World Championship grand prizes of 15,000, $10,000, and $5,000.

“The Optimist International Foundation is a strong and involved partner in the Optimist mission,” said OIF Executive Director Craig Boring. “We are proud of funding significant and impactful programs such as the Oratorical Contest and the World Oratorical Championship. These endeavors are more than just a scholarship program — they truly build confidence, communication skills and many other positive attributes in our youth.

“Together, we are all helping shape the future leaders of societies, so please support the Foundations so great programs like these can continue for years to come.”

While Bruns himself didn’t win a scholarship, he stressed that the Oratorical Contest benefits all its participants, not just the winners. Every contestant, he said, regardless of their experience or ability, has an important message to share, and each takes away something invaluable from the contest.

Optimist International and Saint Louis University have partnered to host the 8th Annual Optimist International Oratorical World Championships at Saint Louis University on July 20-21, 2023.