The Optimist Club of Washington
Essay Contest
The Essay Contest is sponsored by Optimist International to give young people the opportunity to write about their own opinions regarding the world in which they live. The approach can encompass a young person’s personal experience, the experience of their country or a more historical perspective. In additional to developing skills for written expression, participants also have the opportunity to win a college scholarship!
Local Club prizes are: 1st place $500, 2nd place $250, and 3rd place $125. Club winners advance to the District contest to compete for a $2,500 college scholarship. The District-level scholarships are funded by the Optimist International Foundations.
Past Essay Winners:
2026 - Addison Pfeiffer
2025 - Madelyn Christiansen - Student at SFBRHS
2024 - Tyler Blakely - Student at WHS
2023 - Alexis Perriman - Student at WHS
2022 - Bridgette Hanneken - Student at SFBRHS
2021 - No contest held
2020 - Audrey Busch - Student at WHS (also East Missouri District winner)
2019 - Jacob Lierman - Student at SFBRHS
2018 - Emma Ploch - Student at SFBRHS
2017 - Leah Weber - Student at SFBRHS

Pictured above our 2026 Optimist Essay Contest Winners Grace Gargrave, Addison Pfeiffer, and Ria Maciejewski.