Essay Contest

The Essay Contest is sponsored by Optimist International to give young people the opportunity to write about their own opinions regarding the world in which they live. A new official topic is chosen each year. Students are encouraged to develop their skills for written expression, and they could win a college scholarship in the process!

The contest is divided into two levels of competition:

1. The preliminary Club contest, where the winner from each local contest advances to the District level, and

2. The Michigan District scholarship contest, where the three top winners are awarded scholarships in the amounts of $2,500 for first place; $1,500 and $1,000 scholarships for second and third place, respectively. These scholarships are funded by the Optimist International Foundation, local clubs, and private individuals.

More information about the West Bloomfield Optimists Club's Essay Contest will be announced in November 2025.

View more details about the District-level event through Optimist International Michigan District.

The essay prompt this year is "How My Acts of Service Help Me Understand What My Community Means to Me"