Tomlin Middle School student Emma Poole competed against five other contestants from across North Florida and won the North Florida District Optimist Oratorical Contest for the Optimist Club Saturday, May 16.
The district finals are part of the North Florida district’s third quarter conference, held this year in Cape Canaveral. As winner of the district level she has secured a $2,500 college scholarship, which was awarded to both the top female and to the top male district participant.
The North Florida District of Optimist International is comprised of over 50 clubs and over 1,000 members in North Florida as far south as Sarasota, Manatee, Polk, Osceola and Brevard counties.
The theme of this year’s contest is “How My Optimism Will Help Me Press On To ‘Greater Achievements of the Future.’” The students presented their four- to five-minute orations in front of an audience including their family and guests, as well as club members from the North Florida district and their families.
“We thought that Emma had a great chance to win the district finals as she improved at each level of the competition” Plant City Oratorical Contest Chairman Dave Robbins said. “Emma stood out among her peers and did a great job.”
Students were judged on poise, content, delivery, effectiveness, attributed quotes, length and topics.
The Optimist Club of Plant City has been involved with local youth through the Oratorical Contest for over 40 years. First conducted by Optimist International in 1928, this is the second most popular Optimist International program, with over 2,000 clubs participating each year.
