MONROE — The Monroe Optimist club invites Green County youth under the age of 19 as of Oct. 1 to enter the Optimist International Essay Contest. Students must submit an application and essay of 700-800 words on the topic of “When All the World’s Problems are Solved, is Optimism Still Necessary?” by Jan. 31. Prizes of $150, $100 and $50 will be awarded to the top local winners with the first-place winner competing at the district level for a $2,500 post-secondary education scholarship. Applications with contest rules can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/OptimistEssay19.

or obtained at the Monroe Middle School or Monroe High School guidance offices. The sponsoring club name is: Optimist Club of Monroe, Number 09117. Students should turn in completed applications and essays to the Monroe Middle School or Monroe High School guidance offices, or they can contact Lisa Hendrickson at 608-558-0091.

The Monroe Morning Optimist Club, a local branch of Optimist International, provides youth-oriented service projects including elementary roller-skating parties, a bicycle safety rodeo, a fishing clinic, TriStar basketball and more. Their cheese curd sales allow them to provide financial assistance to local youth projects. For more information, go to http://monroeoptimistclubs.com/ and http://optimist.org/ or visit the Monroe Morning Optimists Facebook page.