Leslie Rebtoy Optimist Essay Contest
Your Ideas. Your Voice. Your Opportunity.
The Leslie Rebtoy Optimist Essay Contest gives local students an opportunity to share their perspective through writing, earn recognition in their community, and compete for cash prizes.
Each year, the Farmington/Farmington Hills Optimist Club invites students to write an original essay based on a new topic selected for the Optimist International Essay Contest.
Contest Topic
Coming Soon
Speech Length
4-5 Minutes
Scholarships
Local Prizes + Advancement
Put Your Ideas Into Words
Young people have something important to say.
The Optimist Essay Contest was created to give students an opportunity to express their own opinions about the world around them while developing their written communication skills.
A new topic is selected each year, challenging students to think about their experiences, their communities, and the difference they can make.
Local winners are recognized by the Farmington/Farmington Hills Optimist Club, and eligible winners may advance to the Michigan District competition for an opportunity to earn additional scholarship awards.
Who Can Enter?
The Farmington/Farmington Hills contest is open to eligible local students in:
Grades 6–8
Middle School Division
Grades 9–12
High School Division
Students must attend school or live within the Farmington/Farmington Hills community.
Complete eligibility requirements for the upcoming contest will be published when the new contest opens.
The Next Essay Topic
Coming Soon
A new official essay topic is selected for each Optimist International contest year.
When the next contest is announced, you’ll find the official topic here along with the deadline, essay requirements, application, and submission instructions.
Prizes & Scholarships
Students have the opportunity to earn recognition and prizes for their writing.
The Farmington/Farmington Hills Optimist Club traditionally awards cash prizes to top finishers in both the middle school and high school divisions.
Eligible high school winners may also advance to the Michigan District Optimist Essay Contest, where students compete for college scholarships.
Prize amounts and scholarship opportunities for the upcoming contest will be posted when the official contest details are announced.
How the Contest Works
Step 1
Write Your Essay
Students write an original essay based on the official topic for that year’s contest.
Step 2
Submit Your Entry
The completed essay and required contest materials are submitted to the Farmington/Farmington Hills Optimist Club by the local deadline.
Step 3
Local Winners Are Selected
Essays are reviewed and winners are selected in the local competition.
Step 4
Opportunity to Advance
Eligible local winners may advance to the Michigan District level for an opportunity to compete for additional recognition and scholarship awards.
Celebrating Young Writers
The Leslie Rebtoy Optimist Essay Contest is about more than choosing a winning essay.
It’s an opportunity for young people in Farmington and Farmington Hills to think about the world around them, organize their ideas, and discover the power of expressing those ideas through writing.
Every essay represents a student’s individual perspective, and we’re proud to provide a place where those voices can be heard.