Optimist essay contest

SUBMITTED PHOTO
Maryville Optimist Club member George Gille is shown with local Optimist essay contest winners Abbie Greeley (first place) and Hailee Beemer (second place). Not pictured is third-place recipient Dominique Wiedmaier.

MARYVILLE, Mo. — The Maryville Optimist Club recently recognized winners of its annual essay contest.

Students entering the competition were asked to write essays on based on the theme “Chasing Optimism in the Face of Challenges.”

The first-place winner was Abbie Greeley, daughter of Gary and Becky Greeley.

Finishing in second and third place, respectively were Hailee Beemer, daughter of James and Johnna Beemer, and Dominique Wiedmaier, daughter of Sean and Angela Wiedmaier.

All three girls are students at Maryville High School and members of the MHS Octagon Club, an Optimist-sponsored youth program.

Each of the winners received plaques and medallions during the club’s breakfast meeting on Feb. 9.

Optimist International is one of the world’s largest service organizations with 75,000 adult and youth members belonging to 2,600 clubs worldwide.

The organization’s motto is “Bringing Out the Best in Kids.”