FPD Sophomore, Reagan Simmons was named the Macon-East Side Optimist Club Essay Winner, the GATEway Zone 7 Essay Winner, and the GATEway Area C Essay Winner. Topic for the 2018-19 school year is “When All the World’s Problems are Solved, is Optimism Still Necessary?”

Reagan is now competing as Area C Winner in the GATEway District Essay Contest. If Reagan wins at the district level, she and her family will be invited to Dalton State College on April 27 to present her essay to the audience of the GATEway Oratorical Contest and the Communication Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

According to Optimist International, the Essay Contest’s goal is “to give young people the opportunity to write about their own opinions regarding the world in which they live.” Students submit an essay on the assigned topic through their local Optimist Club in February. Then the local clubs submit their winning essay to the District Chair by February 28. The deadline for Districts then submit their winner’s information to Optimist International in April. Club winners who advance to the District contest compete for a $2,500 college scholarship. The District-level scholarships are funded by the Optimist International Foundations.