Club names oratorical contest winners

The Optimist Club of Van Wert recently held its oratorical contest based on the topic “If I Were Leader of the Free World, the First Issue I Would Address Would be…”

Jordan Mohr won first place in the competition for boys and Ann Brake won first place in the competition for girls. Both received gold medallions and checks for $150.  In addition, the first-place finishers will participate in the zone event to be held in Delphos in April, where they will compete against winners from other Optimist Clubs.

Winners from the zone competition will move on to regional competition and then to the district contest with the chance to win scholarships.

Second place winners, who received silver medallions and checks for $100, were Cody Klinker and Sarah Klinger. Johnathan Brake, the third place winner, received a bronze medallion and a check for $50.

“All the students did a wonderful job, and there is no doubt that all of these students have a bright future ahead of them,” said Gloria Waterman, Oratorical Contest Committee chair.