Optimist Club Offers Scholarships for 2012 Student Essays

The Coquitlam Optimist Club is offering $175 in cash prizes and an opportunity to win a $2,500 scholarship in Optimist International’s 2012 Essay Contest.

The Essay Contest is open to students under 18 years of age as of December 31, 2011, who have not graduated from secondary school. Contestants must submit essays of 700-800 words in length on the topic “How my Positive Outlook Benefits my Community.”

The Coquitlam Optimist Club will award cash prizes of $100 for first place, $50 for second place and $25 for third place. The first place winner will advance to the Pacific Northwest District contest with the opportunity to win a $2,500 college scholarship. The Pacific Northwest District includes Optimist Clubs in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska.

Optimist International sponsors the Essay Contest to give young people the opportunity to write about their own opinions regarding the world in which they live. The approach can encompass a young person’s personal experience, the experience of their country or a more historical perspective.

To enter, students must first fill out an application form. To receive the application form along with detailed contest rules and information on how to submit essays, contact Peter Smith (604-469-1514) or e-mail the Coquitlam Optimist Club at coquitlamoptimists@gmail.com. The Coquitlam Optimist Club must receive completed essays by February 6, 2012.

Essay contest rules and application forms are available at the Optimist International website http://www.optimist.org/Form/Essay_RULES_PAD-E_11-12.pdf. However, all application forms and essays from local students must be submitted to the Coquitlam Optimist Club.

SPORTS TEAMS, SCHOOL GROUPS/PAC COMMITTEES, YOUTH ACTIVITY GROUPS: Do you want an easy way for your group to earn money?

Join the Optimist Walk for Youth

ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS WALK 5K … and collect pledges. 

We look after all the event management, signage, promotion, advance/walk day registration and refreshments.  Plus we’ll hold a bonus draw and match 100% of the winning group’s pledges up to $1000.

We keep 25% of the funds raised to cover our costs.  Any balance that remains after our expenses are paid goes back into the community through our many Optimist programs. This year the remaining funds will support Optimist Childhood Cancer initiatives.  Everyone benefits!

WHEN:           November 11, 2011
                        Registration at 12 Noon
                        Walk begins at 1:00 PM

WHERE:         Coquitlam Recreation Center

To Register phone:      604 936 3649 (Rick Todd at Grapes 4U) or
Email: coquitlamoptimists@gmail.com

Download a pledge package here (4 documents).

Don't miss the annual Free Skate that follows the Walk for Youth (1:30 to 3:30 PM).  Bring a non-perishable item for the Food Bank.

Coquitlam Sponsors New Optimist Club in the Okanagan

The Coquitlam Optimist Club has sponsored a new Optimist Club to serve the youth of Vernon and the surrounding communities. The North Okanagan Optimist Club chartered on September 27, 2011, with 23 charter members. Past International Vice-President Sandy Larivee officially organized the club on behalf of Optimist International. Ed Murphy III, Governor of the Pacific Northwest District, and Peter Smith and Hal Griffin, President and President-Elect, respectively, of the sponsoring Coquitlam Optimist Club, attended the chartering ceremony.

The North Okanagan Optimist Club is the 50th Optimist club in the Pacific Northwest District of Optimist International, which encompasses Optimist clubs in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. The new club joins Zone 2 with clubs in Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Mission and Coquitlam.

Led by Charter President Janice Mori and Charter Secretary-Treasurer Pam Hargreaves, the new club has already talked about running oratorical contests and other community activities. The club will also raise money to meet needs of young people in the Vernon area.

Optimist Club Presents 2011 Scholarships

 

The Coquitlam Optimist Club has presented the annual Robert Simms Memorial Scholarships to nine 2011 graduates of secondary schools in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody. The scholarship recipients and their schools are Ian Chen, Centennial; Ashley Tam, Gleneagle; Cindy Ding, Pinetree; Christy Hui, John Hwang and David Hwang, Port Moody; and Ana Adriyanta, Marleis Bowering and Nicole Labayo, Archbishop Carney.

The $500 Robert Simms Memorial Scholarships are awarded primarily based on the students’ service to their communities.

The scholarship recipients have chosen a variety of post-secondary schools both within and outside British Columbia. Cindy Ding is attending the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, while Christy Hui is attending UBC’s Okanogan Campus. Ashley Tam is a student at Simon Fraser University. Nicole Labayo is studying at Douglas College, and Marleis Bowering is at the University of Victoria. Students who have chosen eastern universities include John Hwang and Ana Adriyanta, McGill University; David Hwang, University of Toronto; and Ian Chen, Waterloo University.

A Busy and Profitable Weekend

June 11-12 was a busy Optimist weekend. On Saturday several Optimist stalwarts served burgers and hot dogs at PoCo Building Supplies to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Port Coquitlam’s oldest business. Sunday was the annual Teddy Bear Picnic. Optimists and friends assisted at the gates, operated a putting range for young golfers and had a profitable day serving burgers and hot dogs.

Special thanks to the Galer family (owners of PoCo Building Supplies) and Greg Graham (the company’s controller) for their generous donation to support Optimist sports programs.