Students Focus On The Positive In Howell Optimist Club Contest

HOWELL, NJ — Optimism, which can seem elusive at times, is actually an important factor in health and wellness.

And that's part of the reason the Howell Alliance, which focuses on encouraging healthy lifestyles with prevention and mental health support, is in partnership with the Howell Optimist Club's annual essay and oratorical contests.

Christa Riddle is coordinator of the alliance, and she said a recent contest involving Howell and Farmingdale students in essay and oratorical categories ties in with the work of the alliance.

"Every year, we do the Optimist International essay and oratorical contests in partnership between the Howell Optimist Club, Howell Alliance and Howell Township Public Schools. Farmingdale School also participated last year and this year," she said.

She said this year’s essay prompt was “Who is an everyday hero that brings out the optimism in you?” This year’s oratorical topic was “Discovering the optimism within me.”

"On behalf of the Howell Alliance, I am a member of the Howell Optimist Club so we can collaborate on our youth initiatives. I am the Optimist Club chair for the contests annually to tie the alliance’s prevention and well-being mission to the contests’ focus on optimism," Riddle said.

The Howell Alliance sponsors the club level awards for the top three essay winners and top three oratorical winners, she said.

"The cooperation from the Howell Township Public Schools makes the event such a success every year," she added.

She said the Howell Optimist Club winners advance to the district competitions, and winners from there go to the regional competitions, then possibly on to the international competitions.

"The scholarship awards grow as the contest level advances," Riddle added.

Here are the essay winners from this year's contest:

• 1st place: Cindy Wu, Middle School South (advances to district)
• 2nd place: Sofia Mendez, Middle School South
• 3rd Place: Sandra Abuelyamin, Middle School South

The oratorical contest winners are:

• 1st place: Justin Douglas, Middle School North (advances to district)
• 2nd place: Alexa Leone, Middle School North (advances to district)
• 3rd place: Michael Natilli, Farmingdale School

Two oratorical winners and one essay winner will advance to the district competition. there were 76 essay entries and 32 oratorical entries, Riddle said.

She added that for the past two years, the program has had one of its winning oratorical contestants, Eliana Mandelberg of Howell High School, return as an oratorical contest judge. Once contestants win at the district level, as Eliana did a few years back, they cannot compete again at any level, Riddle noted.

For more information, you can access the Friends of the Howell Alliance Facebook page for more details on the contests. Here is a link to the Optimist Club International. The Howell Optimist Club president is John Alliano, Riddle said.