Kylee Wallentine, senior, took first in the girls division and Spencer Foster, junior, placed second in the boys division of the Kansas Optimist Oratory Contest in Topeka on April 21.

Wallentine, who competed against four other girls, received a $2,500 scholarship, and Foster, who competed against three boys, received a plaque.

Both of them qualified for the state Optimist contest by taking first place in the local contest, sponsored by the Olathe Noon Optimist Club on March 22.

Students under the age of 18 had to write a four to five minute speech on the topic “Where are the roots of my optimism?”

The students were helped by Helen Hardgree, QUEST teacher. She helped them memorize their speeches and went to Topeka with them for support.

Wallentine advised that students participating should “prepare in advance because memorization takes a while.”

Interested students can visit the Olathe Noon Optimist Club’s website or Hardgree for more information.

The parent newsletter inadvertently reported that Foster received first and Wallentine received second, but this is not the case.