2012 Coronado Optimist Oratorical Contestants and Officials
A record number of 14 contestants participated in this year’s Coronado Optimist Oratorical Contest. The topic addressed was; “How Optimism Helps Me to Overcome Obstacles”. Student orators were from Coronado Middle School and Sacred Heart Parish School.
Each speech was graded for poise, delivery and effectiveness and was 4 to 5 minutes long. In attendance were students, parents, teachers, school administrators and Optimists. The judges this year were Mayor Casey Tanaka and Optimists Bill Perry, Mike Lavin and Molly McKay.
The boy winners were Alex Gutierrez (1st), Dante Gutierrez (2nd) and Jaime Caballero (3rd). Girl winners were Lorea Mediguren (1st), Carolina Salomire (2nd) and Andrea Gutierrez (3rd). The first place winners will continue on to the next level of competition. If successful, the final level of competition will be at the Cal-South District, where winners receive $2500 scholarships.
All of the orators spoke of the importance of being optimistic. Phrases such as; hang in there, press on, never give up, learn from mistakes, can’t change life–only how we live it, were but a sample. The importance of optimism in developing self-confidence was mentioned in several speeches. One contestant said, “I never gave a speech before, but I’m doing it!”
Optimist member Claudia Ludlow, General Manager of the Glorietta Bay Inn, was contest coordinator. The Optimists thank all that made the contest successful – especially the orators, teachers and parents!
