Optimist International Essay Contest Opening Soon
Offered by Optimist International
About This Scholarship
Optimist International, the century-old civic service organization behind thousands of local Optimist Clubs, runs an annual essay contest that awards $2,500 college scholarships at the district level, funded by the Optimist International Foundations. The 2026-27 topic is "Finding My Voice in a World Full of Noise."
Students enter through a local Optimist Club — no membership required — and club winners advance to one of Optimist's districts, where the $2,500 scholarship is decided. Because every district crowns a winner, dozens of scholarships are awarded across the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean each year, and competition happens at a community scale rather than against a national pool.
The contest is open to students under age 19 (as of October 1 of the contest year) who have not yet completed secondary school. Club-level deadlines vary locally, but all club contests conclude by early February. Students without a known local club can email [email protected] for a connection starting October 1.
Eligibility
- Under age 19 as of October 1 of the current contest year (contest year runs October 1 - September 30)
- Has not completed secondary school or its equivalent
- Essay on the official annual topic (2026-27: "Finding My Voice in a World Full of Noise")
- No Optimist Club membership required; entry is through a local club
How To Apply
- Find a local Optimist Club (email [email protected] from October 1 if you don't know one) and confirm its entry deadline
- Write and submit your essay on the official topic to the club contest — club contests conclude by early February
- Club winners advance to the district contest, where the $2,500 scholarship is awarded (district results due to Optimist International by April 15)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many scholarships are given out?
Each Optimist district awards a $2,500 scholarship to its essay contest winner, so dozens of scholarships are awarded across North America every year — one per district.