Earl Friedman Oratorical Contest
Sponsored by the Farmington / Farmington Hills Breakfast Optimist Club

The Farmington-Farmington Hills Breakfast Optimist Club is taking applications for the 2023 Earl Friedman Oratorical Contest.

The contest is set for Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at
CARES of Farmington Hills
27835 Shiawassee Street
Farmington Hills, MI 48336

Application deadline is 6:00 p.m., Friday March 10, 2023. The applications are now CLOSED. Completed forms should be mailed to Nicole Blackmon, PO Box 2203, Farmington Hills, MI 48333-2203.  They can also be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We reserve the right to turn down applicants once we have reached capacity

The topic/title for this year’s contest is “Discovering the Optimism within Me”.  Speeches should be at least four minutes, but not more than five minutes (time penalties will be assessed for finishing under or over the time limit).

The contest is open to all contestants under the age of 19 as of October 1, 2022, who are not enrolled as a degree-seeking student of a post-secondary institution (college).  There is no minimum age.  A copy of the contestant’s birth certificate must be submitted at the time of the contest.

Medallions and monetary prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners.

Certificates of participation will be given to all contestants.

We are allowed to send two winners to the next level and they will have an opportunity to participate for a scholarship prize.

Family members and guests of the contestants are encouraged to attend the contest.

For further information, contact Nicole Blackmon at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.