The Optimist Club of Calgary is a community based service club with the objective “Bringing Out The Best In Youth”, One of the ways this happens is through an essay contest for students up to Grade 12. The club offers medals and cash prizes for the first three places. The best essay is sent forward into a contest with essays from all the clubs in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Montana and Northern Wyoming in which the prize is a $2,500 post-secondary scholarship.
This year the topic for the contest is “When All the World’s Problems Are Solved, Is Optimism Necessary?”’ Two students from Western Canada HS, Jay Baldonado (Gr. 10, IB) and Joanna Li (Grade 11, IB), placed first and second, respectively. It was a repeat performance for Jay in this contest, as he achieved first last year when he entered from his Jr. HS in 2018. His essay has been sent forward again this year to the contest for he post-secondary scholarship of $2,500. He should learn the results by mid-April.
Mr. Bob Steele of the Optimist Club of Calgary recently visited Western Canada HS to present medals to Jay and Joanna. He was accompanied by Mr. Poirier as he visited their classes to present the medals.
You can read Jay's winning essay here.
