For the Miami Valley Today

TROY — The Troy Noon Optimist Club is pleased to announce this year’s Troy Noon Optimist Oratorical Contest, which will be held on Monday, Feb. 28, beginning at noon at Troy First United Methodist Church’s First Place Christian Center located at 16 W. Franklin St., Troy.

This year, the contest, which is held annually and is open to school-age young people of all ages, will feature 14 young contestants each presenting a talk centered around the theme, “Staying Optimistic in Challenging Times.” Each talk must be 4-5 minutes in length, it must be memorized, and the presenters will be judged for the content of their speeches, their poise, their delivery and presentation, and their overall effectiveness.

The Oratorical Contest is open to the public at no admission, and all parents, family, friends, and teachers of the contestants, as well as interested members of the public at large, are welcome to attend to support and encourage these outstanding young people as they compete. Those attending the Oratorical Contest may bring their own lunches to eat immediately prior to the contest from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Once the Oratorical Contest begins, however, members of the audience will not be permitted to come and go or to clap, cheer, or in any other way distract the contestants during the Oratorical Contest.

The Troy Noon Optimist Club invites one and all to attend its Oratorical Contest coming up on Monday, Feb. 28, at noon. Those seeking more information about the contest may contact Optimist Club member and Contest Organizer Pat Morris at (937) 829-6587.