Seward Optimist Club Honors Local Speakers in State Contest-2018
Launch the media gallery 1 playerThe Seward Optimist Club honored their sponsored speakers at the Youth State Optimist Oratorical Contest held on April 7 at Grand Island Northwest High. Honored at their April 19thmeeting were Evan Nottingham-SHS Senior, who was selected Champion Speaker in the Boys Division of the contest and Madayln Lobmeyer-SHS Sophomore, who was the Girls Division Champion Speaker. Both received certificates and $2500 scholarships for college. Each student wrote and memorized their five minute speech on the topic “Where are my roots of Optimism?”
Launch the media gallery 2 playerAlso honored and recognized at the evening Optimist meeting was Alex Sick, SHS Freshman, who was sponsored by the Lincoln Evening Optimist Club and placed third in the Girl’s Division of the contest and won a $250 scholarship. Attending the April 7thspeech contest was SHS sponsor, Ms Melissa Pohl-SHS Assistant Speech Coach and Lana Urban-Seward Optimist President.
An evening meal preceded the student presentations for the Seward Optimist Club membership on April 19th, with awards following. Each student presented their award winning speech for the membership and were presented special Oratorical Contest Medals and certificates from the Seward Club. The Seward Club also covered the expenses and entry fees for their two sponsored students.
It was noted that this is the first time that the Seward Club has sponsored both First Place winners in the State contest. Also attending the evening Optimist Club meeting was SHS Speech Coach Clark Kolterman and Melissa Pohl-SHS Assistant Speech Coach, thanked the Seward Optimist membership for their continued support of youth programing, such as this Optimist Speech Contest and shared the impact of the scholarships generated over the decades that they have sponsored their speakers.