Local Students Use Their Voice for a Chance at $20,000 in Scholarships In Optimist Oratorical Contest

CORNWALL, ON – The Zone 10 Optimist Oratorical Competition took place on Sunday, April 5, showcasing the talent and resilience of four young speakers from Eastern Ontario. The event, held for winners of local-level competitions, featured two speakers from Cornwall, one from Spencerville, and one from Nepean.

Each participant had earned their place by winning a qualifying round hosted by their respective local Optimist Clubs, part of Optimist International’s long-standing tradition of empowering youth through public speaking. Since 1928, the organization has hosted oratorical competitions across its 2,000 clubs, giving young people a platform to share their stories and compete for scholarships.

This year’s theme, “How Optimism Has Guided Me Through Trying Times,” challenged contestants to deliver heartfelt speeches ranging between four to five minutes.

Judging the event were three esteemed community members: Ms. Diane Barker, retired RN; Neil Benjamin, a teacher of history, English, and law with the Upper Canada District School Board; and the Honourable Nolan Quinn, Ontario’s Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence, and Security.

Winners of the competition were:

• 🥇 First Place: Sophia Bunten, Cornwall
• 🥈 Second Place: Fariha Tasnim Sikder, Ottawa
• 🥉 Third Place: Anika Squires, Spencerville
• 🏅 Fourth Place: Ryan De Haan, Cornwall

The top two speakers—Bunten and Sikder—will advance to the district competition in Oakville on May 3. From there, winners can continue to the regional level, with the ultimate goal of competing in the World Championship in St. Louis, Missouri on July 17. Finalists at that stage compete for scholarships totaling over $20,000.

Optimist International awards more than $150,000 in scholarships annually, supported by the Optimist International Foundation (OIF) in the U.S. and the Canadian Children’s Optimist Foundation (CCOF) in Canada.

For more information on the program and how to get involved, visit: Optimist.org/member/scholarships4.cfm