Communications Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Your ideas. Your language. Your stage.
Anchorage students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing are invited to present an original message through speech or sign language.
How Optimism Has Guided Me Through Trying Times
The submission deadline was January 31, 2026. This prompt remains as a reference for the closed contest cycle.
Students may choose the presentation mode that best expresses their ideas.
The audiogram must be completed within 24 months of the contest date.
Eligibility requires certified uncorrected hearing loss of at least 40 decibels.
Published awards are $2,500, $1,500, and $1,000.
Two ways to communicate
One powerful opportunity to be understood.
The contest is designed to give students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing a platform to present their ideas to an audience and prepare for the future.
Speech
Present the annual topic through spoken language, using content and delivery to connect with the audience.
Sign language
Present the annual topic through sign language, bringing the same emphasis to clarity, expression, and audience connection.
Eligibility checklist
Confirm the requirements before preparing an entry.
The contest's hearing and education requirements are specific. Students and families should review the official application and ask the club when anything is unclear.
This overview reflects the published 2025-26 Anchorage contest information. The active application controls when a future cycle opens.
Ask an eligibility questionEducation and region
Open through grade 12 in the United States and Canada, through CEGEP in Quebec, and through grade 13 in the Caribbean for students educated in those regions.
Recent audiogram
Submit results from an audiogram completed by a qualified audiologist no more than 24 months before the contest date.
Certified hearing loss
The audiogram must support an uncorrected hearing loss of 40 decibels or more.
Judging and recognition
Ideas matter. Presentation brings them to life.
The club evaluates participants on content and presentation, then recognizes local winners and advances top contestants to District competition.
Content + presentation
Students are evaluated on the strength of their message and how effectively they communicate it to an audience.
From Anchorage to District
First, second, and third place club winners receive medallions. First and second place advance to District-level competition for the published scholarship awards.
How entry works
Four steps from eligibility to presentation.
The 2025-26 cycle is closed, but this process shows students and families what to prepare when the next Anchorage contest opens.
Review the official application
Read the current topic, rules, presentation requirements, and full eligibility terms.
Confirm the audiogram
Make sure qualifying results from a qualified audiologist fall within the 24-month window.
Prepare the presentation
Develop an original response in speech or sign language and practice connecting with an audience.
Email the complete entry
Send the application and all required materials to the scholarship team before the deadline.
Eligibility questions
Specific rules deserve clear answers.
Need help understanding which contest fits?
Ask the scholarship teamWho can enter this contest?
Eligible students are educated in the United States, Canada, or the Caribbean and fall within the published grade-level limits. They must also meet the audiogram and hearing-loss requirements.
How recent must the audiogram be?
The audiogram must be completed by a qualified audiologist no more than 24 months before the contest date.
What level of hearing loss is required?
Students must be certified to have an uncorrected hearing loss of 40 decibels or more, supported by the submitted audiogram.
Can a student present in sign language?
Yes. The contest permits students to express the annual topic using either speech or sign language.
What if a student has permanent correction?
The published rules state that students with permanent correction should compete in the Optimist International Oratorical Contest.
When will the next topic and deadline be announced?
The 2025-26 cycle closed on January 31, 2026. Email scholarships@anchorageoptimists.org to ask when the next Anchorage contest details will be available.
Every idea deserves a way through
Applications are currently closed.
Ask for the next contest announcement, or review the previous application to understand the eligibility documentation and entry format.