🖋️ Meet Amelia Turbeville – Essay Contest Winner 2025

We are thrilled to announce that Amelia Turbeville, a bright and thoughtful 7th grader from St. Andrew Catholic School in Myrtle Beach, has won the 2025 Childhood Cancer Optimist Club Essay Contest! Her powerful essay artfully explored the theme of “How Optimism Has Paved My Road to Success,” the official topic for the 2024–2025 Optimist International Essay Contest.

Amelia’s writing stood out for its warmth, insight, and genuine positivity. She wove together personal reflections, stories of resilience, and her hopes for the future, capturing the essence of optimism in a deeply moving and memorable way.

🎓 Acknowledgments from the Community

Amelia received guidance and support from Sue Hansen, her teacher at St. Andrew, and the 2025 Essay Contest Committee Chair for the Childhood Cancer Optimist Club. Sue’s dual role in both nurturing academic talent and organizing the contest made this moment especially meaningful.

Also celebrating with Amelia was John Grover, President of the Childhood Cancer Optimist Club, who expressed his pride in Amelia’s accomplishment and appreciation for the inspiring leadership of Sue Hansen.

📸 Captured Moments

In the photo, Amelia stands proudly between her teacher and mentor, Sue Hansen, and Club President John Grover, both of whom played a key role in this achievement.

🌟 Looking Ahead

As the club-level winner, Amelia received a certificate and medallion, and her essay advanced to the District competition, where she had the opportunity to compete for a $2,500 scholarship from Optimist International.

Her message of hope and determination reminds us all of the power of optimism in shaping the future.

About the Childhood Cancer Optimist Club

A mission-driven Optimist club focused on supporting children and families affected by childhood cancer, they champion hope, service, and community engagement across North and South Carolina.

About the Optimist Essay Contest

This annual contest invites youth to reflect on a central theme of optimism and submit original essays. Winners at the club level move on to compete for district-level scholarships funded by Optimist International Foundations.