The Optimist Club of Calvert is a non-profit organization run by adult volunteers. Our mission is to help kids in the local community with service projects, scholarships, and support for other youth organizations. The Optimist Club of Calvert has touched the lives of many youth and adults in our community through the projects and programs that we have sponsored over the last fifty years. We are always eager to enhance and expand our efforts to be the ‘Friend of Youth’ and provide service to the community.
New Members Welcome !!!
Join us at one of our monthly dinner meetings! Meetings Dinner meetings are held on the fourth Monday of each month, starting at 7 p.m. at O’Gannigan’s Irish Pub in Prince Frederick. (Meetings are not held in December.) For more information about becoming a member, please visit our Membership page or email CalvertOptimists@gmail.com for more information.
Please register here for the 2025 Youth Fishing Derby
2025 MDSD ZONE 4 ORATORICAL CONTEST
For the first time in over 12 years, our Zone had enough clubs holding Oratorical Contests that we could hold a Zone Level Competition. Our club’s contest winner, Brett Sheranko, competed against two contestants from St. Mary’s County – one representing the Mechanicsville Optimist Club and one representing the Lexington Park-St. Maries (correct spelling) Club. Brett continued his winning streak, coming in first place! He and the second-place winner will advance to the Maryland South Delaware District Oratorical Contest in Ocean City in late April. Pictured are Contestants Brett Sheranko, Esther Bonney (Mechanicsville Club) and Grace Fitzgerald (Lexington Park-St. Maries Optimist Club).
We recently celebrated the winners of our 2025 Essay and Oratorical Contests at our monthly dinner meeting.
Congratulations to our Essay Winners: 1st Place Luke Grover (Northern High) $125, 2nd Place Hannah Storm Ricks (Calvert High) $75, and 3rd Place Lindsey Davis (Calvert High) $50. Congratulations to our Oratorical Contest Winners: 1st Place Brett Sheranko (Patuxent High) $300, 2nd Place Samuel Zolfaghari (Northern High) $200, and 3rd place Anne Lawrence (Northern High) $100
Pictured in the first photo (l-r) are Essay Contest winners Lindsey Davis, Hannah Storm Ricks, and Luke Grover. Pictured in the second photo (l-r) are Oratorical Contest winners Brett Sheranko and Anne Lawrence. Unfortunately, Samuel Zolfaghari was unable to join us.
Congratulations to the winners of our 2025 Optimist International Oratorical contest!!
1st Place: Brett Sheranko (Patuxent High School), 2nd Place: Samuel Zolfaghari (Northern High School), 3rd Place: Anne Lawrence (Northern High School)
All received a cash award and medallion. Our first-place winner, Brett Sheranko, advanced to the Zone level competition, competing against two St. Mary’s County contestants. Special thanks to our Oratorical Contest Chair, Joe Endy, and contest judges Anne Weems, Eric Thompson, Krista Brezina, and Timekeeper Kurt Brezina.
Pictured (l-r) are Contest Chair Joe Endy, Anne Lawrence, Sam Zolfaghari, Runner-Up Ryan Zolfaghari, and Brett Sheranko.
At our October monthly dinner meeting, we welcomed newest club member Paul Murdoch, Jr. Paul and lives in St. Leonard and runs an educational tour company called Chesapeake Heritage and Paleontological Tours. Interested in becoming a member or have questions? Send us a message to calvertoptimists@gmail.com and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.
At our August monthly dinner meeting, we welcomed new club member Candace Milcarzyk. Candace is also a member of the Optimist Club of Solomons, where she is currently the Club President. Interested in becoming a member or have questions? Send us a message to calvertoptimists@gmail.com and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.
August 12, 2024
It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of friend and member Spencer Howes. Spencer was a charter member of our club (1968) and was our club President in 1976/77. We offer our condolences to the Howes family.
The Optimist Club of Calvert is proud to announce our 2024 Scholarship Winners!
Sarah Davis, a recent Calvert High School graduate, was awarded the 2024 Les Knapp Scholarship, valued at $8,000. Sarah will be attending the University of Maryland this fall majoring in Dietetics. Sarah Hurley, a recent Northern High School graduate, was awarded the 2024 Jim King Scholarship, valued at $6,000. Sarah will be attending Hamilton College in New York this fall majoring in International Relations. Kennedi Jones, a recent Huntingtown High School graduate, was awarded the 2024 Robert L. Chaney Career/Vocational/Technical Scholarship, valued at $3,000. Kennedi will be studying Computer Science at Hood College in the fall.
Sara Bevard, a recent Calvert High School graduate, was awarded the Edward V. Dorsey, Jr. Junior Optimist Scholarship, valued at $3,000. Sara will be attending Liberty University in Virginia this fall majoring in Biomedical Science. Emma Brezina, also a recent Calvert High School graduate, was awarded the Edward V. Dorsey, Jr. Junior Optimist Scholarship, valued at $3,000. Emma will be attending Stevenson University this fall majoring in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics. Congratulations Sarah, Sarah, Kennedi, Sara, and Emma! 
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