Avon Optimist Club

05/04/2026

Local Students Wins the Indiana South District Optimist Oratorical Finals

Avon, Indiana – For the 5th year in a row, the Avon Optimist Club sponsored the youth that won the Indiana South District Optimist Oratorical Finals. The Avon Club sponsors an Oratorical Contest each year but have never had a winner five years in a row at the District level. Well, it finally happened at the 3rd Quarter District Conference in Jasper, Indiana on April 18th.

Jay Desai and Aliyah Surakat, students at Avon High School, placed 1st and 2nd at the Indiana South District Oratorical contest based on the theme of " The Moment I Realized I Belonged-My Definition of Community”. Jay was awarded a $2500 Scholarship for the honor. He is now eligible to compete in regional and final competitions in St. Louis, Missouri, at Saint Louis University. Winners of the regional contest will compete in the finals World Championship also held at Saint Louis University. Jay could possibly win up to $22,500 in additional scholarships!

Also, of note Aliyah a student at Avon High School, who placed 2nd in our contest won 2nd place in the District Contest. She received a $1500 scholarship. Avon Optimists are very proud of these two students and we expect them to have a very bright future.

03/23/2026

Matt Abbey will become the Director of Bands at Avon High School. He will assume leadership of the legendary Band program—which includes the six-time national champion Avon Marching Black & Gold—at the start of the upcoming school year.

03/23/2026

When you say yes to volunteering, you open doors for youth and create support that lasts far beyond today. Be the Change by saying yes. Visit https://www.optimist.org/landingpage/

01/22/2026

Optimist International is a worldwide volunteer organization made up of more than 2,500 local Clubs whose Members work each day to make the future brighter by bringing out the best in children, in their communities, and in themselves.

01/11/2026

Everyone can make a difference. Show up. Lend a hand. Be the change.

To make a difference, visit https://www.optimist.org/landingpage/
😊 🌎😊✨🙏

01/11/2026

The Avon Optimist Club announces that their 2025-26 Essay contest with a deadline for entry of Saturday, January 31, 2026.

We respectfully request your help in making the contest yet again a wonderful opportunity for students to demonstrate their essay skills. Several winners from our club have also won the Indiana South District Optimist contest. The winner is awarded a $2500 scholarship at the District Level. I think we can do this year, again.

The 2025-26 topic is: "How My Acts of Service Help Me Understand What My Community Means to Me”

Please email a completed application AND a copy of the Essay for the contestant no later than Saturday, January 31st, 2026 to [email protected]. The application as well as Rules may be downloaded
from https://www.optimist.org/member/scholarships3.cfm or you may email [email protected] and one will be emailed back. Please READ all the rules.

Optimist International is a worldwide volunteer organization made up of more than 2,500 local Clubs whose Members work each day to make the future brighter by bringing out the best in children, in their communities, and in themselves.

01/07/2026

It was the Christmas season and we as Optimists have continued for several years to provide toys for the children in Hendricks County.

This year is no different. In cooperation with the Central Indiana Woodworkers (CIWW) we have donated wooden toys to four agencies in our community which work with and provide these toys to children who may not get any other toys.

Members of the CIWW work all year and make wooden toys in their woodworking shops. Over 10,000 toys were made & stored for distribution this year. Toys are boxed up and stored until the 1st Saturday in December. That morning, members "pick & pack" up toys for over 40 agencies in central Indiana. Members load up their trucks & cars and deliver those toys to those agencies.

In Hendricks county the Avon and Plainfield Optimist clubs have taken on this responsibility to get some of those toys to Hendricks County Agencies.

This year, Kevin Kessinger & Andy Tice (Plainfield) and John Haselden (Avon) picked up and delivered toys. Over 300 toys were given to four agencies here in Hendricks County. Those agencies are:

Family Promise
Firefly
Project Angel
Sheltering Wings

A big “Thank you” to Kevin, Andy and John for their work in doing this for the children.

Kevin Kissenger & Andy Tice delivering to Family Promise

12/15/2025

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12/01/2025

11/30/2025