Applications welcome for Optimist Essay Contest

The Optimist Club of Cicero-North Syracuse is sponsoring an Essay Contest with a top award of a $2,500 college scholarship. Students under the age of 19 who live within the boundaries of the North Syracuse Central School District are eligible to participate. Entries for this year’s contest, “Optimism: How it Connects Us,” are due by January 26, 2024.

Contest rules are as follows:

1. Each entry must have a title page containing: the official topic, number of words, writer's name and address, phone number, name of school, and birth date.
2. At top of page 1 should be official topic and number of words.
3. Entries must be typewritten and double spaced.
4. Essays must contain at least 700 words but no more then 800 words.
5. Each page of the essay must be numbered starting with page 1 of the essay, NOT the title page. The numbers must be centered at the bottom of each page.
6. Any quotations or copyrighted material used must be identified properly.
7. No references can be made in the essay that identifies the student, parents, school, community, sponsoring Optimist Club (C-NS) or District (New York/New England).
8. The entry must be stapled together in upper left-hand corner. Covers of any type are NOT accepted.

Click here to view and print the required application form which should then be given to the student's English teacher.