Logo courtesy of Optimist International

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - The Sacramento Breakfast Optimist Club is encouraging area students to speak their minds about this year’s topic, “The Moment I Realized I Belonged – My Definition of Community” as part of the Optimist International Oratorical Contest for the 2025-26 school year.

The contest will be held 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 28 at the Sierra Oaks office of Windermere Real Estate Company, 2580 Fair Oaks Blvd, Suite 20, Sacramento.

The Optimist Club will judge the local students’ speeches based on content and presentation to determine the top winners. Top finishers will receive cash awards of $500, $300 and $100, with the two top finishers moving on to the Zone level and possibly the District level, for an opportunity to win college scholarship money. 

Winners of the District level will be eligible to compete in the Western Region competition in St. Louis, Missouri, held at Saint Louis University.

Regional contest winners will then compete in the World Championship, also held at Saint Louis University. Students could possibly win up to $22,500 in scholarships.

The contest is open to students under the age of 19 as of Oct. 1, 2026.

The deadline to submit the contest application and copy of the student speech is Feb. 16. Students wishing to participate in the oratorical contest can find out further information by contacting Contest Chair, Tim Reardon at [email protected] or at 916-502-3412.