The Shawnee Optimist Club awarded a group of young writers at their Thursday meeting for work in a recent speech and essay contest. The categories for the contest include oratorical writing, which is designed for public speaking, while the essay category is more about storytelling. The first-place winners of each category received medals for their achievements and read their work in front of the club. The topics for both success pieces revolved around reaching your dreams and healing the world through optimism.