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Bloomfield Student’s “World without Boundaries” Essay Earns $2,500 Scholarship
(Southfield-Lathrup Village Optimist Club, June 12, 2020)
Southfield, MI – Kalyn Mullens, an 11th Grade student at Bloomfield High School was the winner in the Southfield-Lathrup Village Optimist Club’s contest and the winner in the Michigan District Optimist oratorical contest. Kalyn’s entry into the local club’s contest was sponsored by the Southfield Alumnae Chapter (SAC) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
The contest was based on a theme of  “Just Imagine a World without Boundaries”. As the winner of the contest, Kalyn will receive a $2,500 scholarship. “Growing up I’ve always felt split in between two worlds. Black on the outside but told I act white on the inside. African Americans face so many negative stigmas: profiling, ghetto, “too proper”. Enough is enough, and I want to be a part of the generation of acceptance and change. Just imagine a world without boundaries!” said Kalyn.
“All students competing in the contest did a wonderful job presenting their speeches about the questions posed to them,” District Oratorical Chair Daniel Mills said. “The Optimists who have heard them speak have no doubt that these students have a bright future ahead of them.”
The Southfield-Lathrup Village Club and the Michigan District has been participating in the Optimist Oratorical Contest for more than thirty years.
Kalyn will be participate in the Optimist International Regional level that will be held virtually due to the coronavirus COVID-19 social distancing safety measures  to compete in the Optimist International Regional /World Championship for a chance to win an additional $5,000 or up to $15,000 scholarship.
Optimist International is one of the world’s largest service club organizations with over 80,000 adult and youth members in almost 3,000 clubs in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Africa and throughout the world. The Optimist Oratorical Contest is one of the organization’s most popular programs, with more than 2,000 clubs participating annually. Carrying the Mission Statement“ By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in youth, our communities and ourselves. Optimists conduct positive service projects that reach more than six million young people each year.
To learn more about the Optimist Club of Southfield-Lathrup Village, please email us at slvoptimist@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook at Southfield-Lathrup Village Optimist Club.
To learn more about the Optimist International Michigan District visit the organization’s website at https://michiganoptimists.org.
To learn more about Optimist International, please call (314) 371-6000 or visit the organization’s website at www.optimist.org.