For the Miami Valley Today

TROY — On Monday, Feb. 28, at noon the Troy Noon Optimist Club held its annual Optimist Oratorical Contest at Troy First United Methodist Church’s First Place Christian Center located at 16 West Franklin St., Troy. Twelve junior-high-aged participants competed by presenting four to five-minute memorized talks centered around the theme, “Staying Optimistic in Challenging Times.” A three-judge panel judged the participants for the content of their speeches, their poise, their delivery and presentation, and their overall effectiveness, and then selected the top three for cash prizes.

Optimist Club member, retired Troy schoolteacher and long-time organizer of the event, Pat Morris, has been challenging young participants like these to prepare their talks with a spirit of excellence for many years now, and this year was no exception. Troy teachers Angie Clouser and Jen Karnehm have also devoted many, many hours of their own time over the years to help prep Oratorical Contest participants. With these ladies’ help, all 12 of this year’s participants did a remarkable job of presenting very insightful and heartfelt talks about what they do or have done in the past to remain optimistic in the face of adversity, and the quality of their presentations was truly outstanding.

This year’s first-place Oratorical Contest competitor was Caroline Rohlfs whose parents are Brad and Natalie Rohlfs of Troy. This year’s second-place competitor was Julia Rose whose parents are Les and Martina Rose, also of Troy, and this year’s third-place competitor was Julia Dilbone whose parents are Dave and Summer Dilbone, also of Troy. The first and second place competitors, Caroline Rohlfs and Julia Rose, will move on to compete in the Optimist Zone Oratorical Contest on Saturday, March 19, 10 a.m. at the Robinson YMCA. Third-place competitor Julia Dilbone will be an alternate who is welcome to attend the event and give her speech for feedback and fun, but she will not be regarded as a contestant unless one of the other girls cannot compete.

The Troy Noon Optimist Club extends its warmest congratulations and thanks to these three amazing young ladies, as well as to all of the other young people who competed so bravely and so well.