Andrew Barbour, a senior at Watauga High School, recently won the Optimist Club of Boone’s essay contest based on a theme of “The Power of Youth.”

Barbour was awarded a medallion and a $200 college scholarship for the honor. In addition, his essay has been sent to the district level to be judged along with winners from other Optimist Clubs in the district. The winner of the district competition will be sent to the international level contest.

College scholarships are available for top winners at the district and international levels.

“Andrew Barbour did a wonderful job of articulating this year’s theme. He expressed himself well through the essay and deserved the honor of first place,” club president Larry Foster said.

The Optimist Club of Boone has been participating in the Optimist Essay Contest for several years and has been active in the community since 1959.

Other programs and service projects that the club is involved in include Little League, Childhood Cancer Campaign, Oratorical Contest, Santa’s Toy Box, Respect for Law Week, South Mountain Children’s Home, N.C. Boys and Girls Home, Watauga High JOOI Club, Youth Appreciation Week, Watauga County Sports Hall of Fame and Optimist International Junior World Golf.

Optimist International is one of the world’s largest service club organizations with 120,000 adult and youth members in 3,800 clubs in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico and throughout the world.

Carrying the motto “Bringing Out the Best in Kids,” Optimists conduct service projects that reach more than 6 million young people each year. To learn more about Optimist International, call (314) 371-6000 or visit the organization’s Web site at www.optimist.org.