LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — A pair of local students demonstrated the true meaning of optimism today in the re-launched annual competition hosted by the Lima Noon Optimist Club.
After a long hiatus, the club revived its Optimist Essay Contest, inviting students from throughout the region to submit essays and deliver speeches on the topic, "How Optimism Guided Me Through Trying Times." The two final contestants, June Essinger from Bluffton High School and Ryan McGue from Elida, each shared their personal stories of how optimism helped them navigate difficult times and set them on a path to future success.
Jen Fitzpatrick, former president of the Lima Noon Optimist Club and contest chair, praised the effort and dedication of all the students who submitted essays. She noted that while every submission was impressive, June and Ryan's essays stood out as exceptional.
After a long hiatus, the club revived its Optimist Essay Contest, inviting students from throughout the region to submit essays and deliver speeches.
"I think of all of the contestants that we had in their speeches last week, they really pulled on their personal experiences, that each of them had something that they've been going through during their high school years, that they were really able to capitalize on and present to us in their speeches last week, and they did the same in their essays as well," said Jen Fitzpatrick, contest chair of the Lima Noon Optimist Club.
Essinger emerged as the winner of the contest. She was awarded $100, an official medallion, and will advance to the district round of the speech contest.
