2025 Optimist Club Oratorical and Essay Contest winners

Each year, the Optimist Club of Cicero-North Syracuse holds essay and oratorical contests, which give students opportunities to win money in their pursuit of higher education. This year's essay contest drew a record number of entries with more than 30 students submitting essays about how optimism has helped paved their individual roads to success.

On Monday, March 3, CNS Junior Optimist Club Advisor and Optimist International Foundation Representative, Bob Crabtree, met with student essay participants to present certificates of appreciation to all students and to formally recognize the top three writers. Tammy Harris, also a member of the CNS Optimist Club, helped Mr. Crabtree honor the students during a brief ceremony in the school's large group instruction room. 

	This year’s essay contest medalists are: 1st place: CNS senior Megan Meives 2nd place: CNS senior Kathleen Harbold 3rd place: CNS senior Ethan Meives
As the first-place winner, Megan's essay now moves forward to the New England / New York Optimist District for consideration in the larger contest where she has the opportunity to win a $2,500 scholarship.

The CNS Optimist Club is grateful to the wonderful judges who volunteered to score the essays. This year’s judges were: Bill Bradley, a retired CNS English Teacher and Dan Hogan and Ken Sherry, who both currently teach English at the high school. Ken also serves as the head of the English Department. 
 

The complete list of essay contestants includes: (from CNS) Ayannah Abdel-Aziz, Sierra Anderson, Alexa Belkna, Mirella Borte, Sam Budihardjo, Oneisha Coakley, Brady Collins, Aubrey Coyle, Kayleigh Cuppernell, Drew Errante, Kathleen Harbold, Jillian Howell, Aiden Ketchum, Sean Loughlin, Cassandra Luce, Ethan Meives, Megan Meives, Dante Melfi, Allison Moran, Abigail Neely, Leo Nguyen, Mya Patti, Regan Phillips, Casey Potratz, Gabrielle Putman, Gino Racht, Makayla Seidman, Maddalena Servider, Angelina Slicer and (from NSJH) Aleks Atakan Gulay, Rowan Barne, Gabriella Herzog and Alexis Sturgeon.

 

The club's oratorical contest was held at the Jerome F. Melvin Administrative Office Building on Tuesday, February 25 with four entrants: CNS junior Liam Byrne, CNS junior Noah Seitz, CNS senior Landon Cook and CNS senior Drew Errante. The young men each gave very eloquent and heartfelt speeches about how optimism has guided them through trying times. Liam, who also participated and placed in last year's contest, took first place. Noah Seitz earned the silver medal and Landon Cook, the bronze. Congratulations to these amazing young men and a huge thank you to the CNS Optimist Club for sponsoring the event. After the contest, CNS Optimist Club President Sue Bradt congratulated the winners and spoke to families about the great work done by the organization. Robert Crabtree served as the night's Master of Ceremonies and offered his thanks to the event judges: Joanne Harlow Retired administrator Syracuse Schools, Lutheran Memorial Church Pastor Yost and Jennifer DiBianco, NSCSD Director of Diverse Learning and Instructional Support.