Optimist Club of Anchorage Scholarship Program
Step up. Speak out. Strengthen others.
The Oratorical Contest gives students a stage to build confidence, shape an original message, and compete for scholarship opportunities through Optimist International.
"How My Actions Strengthen Those Around Me"
Contestants must state the official topic in the first sentence. Speeches may be reviewed with plagiarism and AI detection software.
A scholarship through public speaking
The Oratorical Contest helps students own the room.
Beginning in 1928, the Optimist International Oratorical Contest has helped young people gain experience in public speaking while competing for college scholarships.
The Optimist Club of Anchorage hosts the local contest and helps students begin the advancement path from Club to Zone, District, and World Championships. This page highlights key rules, but the official application should guide every submission.
Open the official rules and entry formStudents must be under age 19 as of October 1, 2026 and must not yet have completed secondary school or its equivalent.
Judges score poise, speech content, delivery and presentation, and overall effectiveness.
District-level awards are $2,500 for first, $1,500 for second, and $1,000 for third.
Contestants may advance from Club to Zone, District, and World Championships, with up to $22,500 in scholarship opportunity.
Building the speech
Turn the topic into a message only you can deliver.
These are optional thinking starters, not extra contest requirements. Use them to move from a broad idea to a focused speech.
What did you choose to do?
Start with a real action, decision, habit, service moment, or personal commitment that affected people around you.
Who became stronger?
Show how your actions affected a friend, family member, team, class, neighborhood, or community.
What did you learn?
Close the speech with insight. Help the audience understand why your actions mattered and what they taught you.
Application checklist
Four steps from first draft to the stage.
The official application requires a completed entry form, an original prepared speech, and a printed copy of the speech before or after presentation.
Download the application
Use the 2026-2027 Optimist International Oratorical Contest application and review every rule.
Write and rehearse
Prepare your own speech. Advice and minor improvements are allowed, but the speech must remain your work.
Complete the form
Fill out the contestant information, permission section, signatures, language choice, and sponsoring club information.
Submit before deadline
Send the completed entry materials to the Anchorage scholarship team no later than January 31, 2027.
Important: speeches under 4 minutes or over 5 minutes receive timing penalties. Audience prompters and failure to complete the speech can lead to disqualification.
Email the teamRules that matter
Great delivery still needs clean contest format.
The application lists penalties for missing the topic in the first sentence, time issues, uncited material, props or special costumes, self-identification, and audience prompting.
Review full application-
01
State the topic first.
The official topic must be stated in the first sentence. Timing begins with the first spoken word.
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02
Keep time carefully.
The speech must be no shorter than 4 minutes and no longer than 5 minutes. Timing penalties are one point per 15 seconds or fraction over or under.
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03
Cite outside material.
Quoted, copyrighted, or largely paraphrased material must be identified verbally during the speech and in the written copy.
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04
Avoid props and special costumes.
Props, special costumes, or special clothing can result in a 10-point penalty.
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05
Protect anonymous judging.
Do not identify the contestant, parents, school, community, sponsoring Optimist Club, or District in the speech.
How speeches are scored
Judges look for content, confidence, delivery, and impact.
Content of speech
Subject adherence, theme, content, logic, and color.
Delivery and presentation
Voice, volume, pronunciation, gestures, eye contact, sincerity, and emphasis.
Overall effectiveness
Appeal, impression, attitude, and effect on the audience.
Poise
Appearance and personality during the presentation.
The advancement path
One local speech can travel a long way.
The Optimist International contest begins locally and can continue through Zone, District, and World Championships competition.
Start in Anchorage
Contestants enter through a local Optimist Club. Club winners may move forward through the Zone level according to District contest procedures.
Scholarship awards
District winners receive scholarships for college, university, or trade school.
World Championships
World Regional winners can advance to the World Championship Contest at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Optimist International materials note that contestants advancing through the full Oratorical path may have the chance to win up to $22,500 at the World Championships level.
Oratorical Contest FAQs
Quick answers before students step up to speak.
Need an answer specific to your student?
Ask the scholarship teamWhat is the 2026-27 Oratorical Contest topic?
The official topic is "How My Actions Strengthen Those Around Me." Contestants must speak on this topic and state it in the first sentence.
Who is eligible to enter?
Contestants must be under age 19 as of October 1, 2026 and must not yet have completed secondary school or its equivalent. The rules list no minimum age.
How long should the speech be?
The speech must be not under 4 minutes and not over 5 minutes. Contestants are not cautioned if they go over or under, and the official timekeeper applies any timing penalty.
Can students use notes?
Yes. The rules allow notes and lecterns if the contestant desires. Audience prompters are not allowed and can result in disqualification.
Can a student enter more than one Optimist Club contest?
No. A contestant is eligible to enter or compete in only one Optimist Oratorical Contest during a contest year.
What proof of age is required?
All contestants must show proof of age before competing. District winners must provide a copy of a birth certificate or passport with District entry documentation.
What happens after the local contest?
The contest begins at the Club level and may proceed to Zone, District, and World Championships levels. District-level scholarships are awarded for first, second, and third place.
Where can I get the application?
Use the official 2026-2027 Optimist International Oratorical Contest application linked on this page, and contact the Anchorage scholarship team with submission questions.
Ready to apply?
Bring your voice to the stage by January 31.
Download the official application, prepare your speech, and reach out early if you have questions about eligibility, timing, or submission details.