AUSTINTOWN CLUB Kelsey Schaefer wins first place at Optimist Oratorical Contest

DUBLIN -- Kelsey Schaefer, representing the Austintown Optimist Club, won first place in the 2004 Optimist International Oratorical Contest on May 22 during the state finals at the Wyndham Dublin Hotel.
"Thinking, Working and Expecting the Best" was the topic. Schaefer, a sophomore at Austintown Fitch High School, won the Zone Five Contest over other contestants representing Optimist Clubs in Mahoning, Columbiana and Trumbull counties. Her win at the regional level qualified her for the Ohio District Finals, where she also was a winner.
Contests are held in 53 districts, nationally and internationally. Contests are limited to youth who have not reached their 16th birthday by Dec. 31 of the preceding year.
The Austintown Optimist Club, formed in 1958, has sponsored oratorical contests annually. Schaefer is the club's first state champion and won a partial scholarship for the accomplishment.
Schaefer is a daughter of Rich and Darlene Schaefer, Harvest Ridge Drive, Austintown. She is a member of Fitch Speech Team, coached by John Mazzucco, and was a semifinalist in original oratory at the state level.
She has won numerous art awards and plans a career in fashion design. She also serves on the Mahoning Valley Youth Leadership Team, Interact Club and Reading Discussion Enrichment.