Optimist International Essay Contest
Scholarship Sponsored by Optimist International
Topic for 2025–2026
How My Acts of Service Help Me Understand What My Community Means to Me
Overview
Optimist International’s Essay Contest gives young people a chance to express their opinions about the world around them, drawing on personal experience, national perspective, or historical context. In addition to strengthening written communication skills, participants can compete for college scholarship money.
Who is eligible
- Open to students who are under 19 years old on October 1 of the current Optimist International contest year (contest year runs October 1 through September 30).
- Entrants must not have completed secondary school or its equivalent; this includes CEGEP students in Québec.
- There is no minimum age.
- Students must enter the contest in the District where they live.
- U.S. students attending school on military installations outside the United States may enter in their last U.S. home of record.
How to enter
- Students must submit an essay on the assigned topic through their local Optimist Club.
- To locate and contact your nearby Optimist Club, email the Programs Department at programs@optimist.org.
- Note: the Essay Contest planning pages are designed for Optimist Clubs running the contest and do not provide instructions for student entry — students should contact their local club directly.
Important deadlines and timeline
- All Club-level contests must be completed by early February. Student entries will not be accepted after the Club contests have closed. If you have questions about timing, reach out to your District Chair.
- Clubs must forward their Club winner’s essay to the District Chair by February 28, 2026.
- Districts must submit their winning student’s information to Optimist International by April 15, 2026.
Prizes
Club winners move on to the District contest, where they compete for a $2,500 college scholarship. District-level scholarships are provided by the Optimist International Foundations.
For more information or help finding a club contact, email programs@optimist.org.