The Newton-Rockdale Optimist Club is looking for a few young people with a positive outlook for a chance at winning a $2,500 scholarship in an essay contest.

For the 2012 essay contest, the topic is “How my Positive Outlook Benefits My Community.” Contestants must not have yet graduated from high school yet or its equivalent and be up to 18 years old as of Dec. 31. The 700-800 word essay is due by Jan. 31, 2012. The winner of the local contest will go on to compete in the Georgia district contest for a $2,500 scholarship prize.

To enter, contact The Newton-Rockdale Optimist Club to obtain an application and Essay Contest rules at NewtonRockdaleOptimist@gmail.com.

The Essay Contest is sponsored by Optimist International to give young people the opportunity to write about their own opinions regarding the world in which they live. This contest, first conducted in 1928, is the second most popular Optimist International Program. Nearly 2,000 clubs participate in this program each year. Districts have the opportunity to provide two $2,500 scholarships or a first place scholarship of $2,500, a second place scholarship of $1,500, and a third place scholarship of $1000.

Optimist International is the world’s fourth largest civic service organization, with 100,000 members world-wide. The Newton-Rockdale Optimist Club is a recently chartered chapter here in the Covington-Conyers area for helping youth. Optimist Clubs are known throughout the world for ‘Bringing Out the Best in Kids.’

The Newton-Rockdale chapter’s next meeting is on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 7 p.m. at Amici’s in downtown Covington. Meet and greet time is from 6:30 pm – 7 pm. The club meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 7 pm at Amici’s in downtown Covington.