The Berry/Kauffold Scholarship 2024
The Berry/Kauffold Scholarship is designed to help students further their music education. The purpose of our scholarship is to provide monetary incentives to musically talented high school students. The money can be used to purchase/lease new or upgraded instrument(s) or to offset expenses for band camp or for private instrumental instruction from a qualified teacher or program.
The award of scholarship support is based upon completion of the application and the recommendation forms and a two-to-five minute video/audio file.
Through this program, we will be awarding $2000 to deserving high school students in Michigan.
Our goal is to encourage long-term involvement in music performance and to make students aware of the opportunity to continue performance with a community music experience and to pursuing music education after high school.
In order to apply, Scholarship applicants must :
- Attend High School in the state of Michigan
or
be sponsored by a current Michigan District Optimist Club - Be in the ninth (9th) through eleventh (11th) grade
- Current members of their high school instrumental or orchestral music program.
Application and Reference Forms
are due by April 15, 2024
All applicants with complete applications will be on the status of his/her scholarship application process.
SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION OF AWARDS*
- Scholarships will be awarded during the Michigan District Optimists Third Quarter Conference in May.
Time and date TBD. - Should this award presentation be postponed or cancelled due to Covid 19, the award announcements will be made via USPS mail.
- Scholarship Awards will be made at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee and must be used by September 15, 2024. The decisions of the Scholarship Committee and Judges are final.
*If the Scholarship will be used for Private Lessons a Verification Log is required
The Private Lesson Verification Log is to be sent to the address listed below no later than October 1, 2024.
The award will be known to the recipient within thirty (30) days after the log has been received.
Payment will be made directly to the student thirty (30) days after the log has been received and verified .
Send Verification Log to:
Michelle Kauffold
8898 Longview Drive
Stanwood, MI 49346
If you have any questions, please contact the
Scholarship Committee Michigan District Optimist/Optimist International
Debra Berry
(ph)248/467-0592
(email) deb@debinparis.com
or
Michelle Kauffold
(ph) 313-510-6300
(email) newmichelle@att.net
Optimists of Downtown Detroit Host Inspiring 2026 Oratorical Club Competition
The Optimists of Downtown Detroit proudly hosted their annual Club Level Oratorical Competition on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Remas Restaurant in Hamtramck. The event brought together club members, judges, students from Hamtramck Public Schools, and honored guests for an evening centered on youth empowerment, public speaking, and community connection.
A Tradition of Empowering Youth Voices
This long-standing program continues to make a meaningful impact thanks to the leadership of retired Hamtramck Public Schools educator Rahiel Housey-Johnson. Supporting her efforts were dedicated HPS staff members Heather Walsh, Karen Swords, Sarah Troxtel, and Kristina Gacesa, all of whom played key roles in organizing and supporting the event.
Honoring Dedication and Legacy
The evening included a heartfelt moment of silence in memory of Jacqueline Johnson, a long-time Optimist and passionate supporter of the Oratorical Contest. Her legacy of encouraging youth to find their voice continues to inspire the program today.
Talented Student Competitors
This year’s competition featured an impressive group of student speakers who delivered thoughtful and powerful speeches on the topic:
“The Moment I Realized I Belonged — My Definition of Community.”
Participating students included:
- Faiza Zarin, 6th Grade – Dickinson East Elementary
- Muhsin Alhadi, 9th Grade – Hamtramck High School
- Nabiha Chowdhury, 9th Grade – Hamtramck High School
- Md. Ezaz Miah, 8th Grade – Kosciuszko Middle School
Each student demonstrated exceptional poise, creativity, and insight, making the competition incredibly close.
A Remarkably Close Competition
Judges Lois Deneau, Maureen McDonald, and Mohamed Rajon had the difficult task of selecting a winner from a highly competitive field. The final scores reflected just how tight the competition was, with only a single point separating the top two contestants.
In the end, Muhsin Alhadi earned the top honor and will advance to the Zone Level Competition, which will be held via Zoom on Saturday, April 18.
Recognizing Excellence
All participating students will be formally recognized for their achievements at the upcoming Law Day/Winners’ Circle Ceremony on May 6, where they will receive awards and certificates celebrating their hard work and accomplishments.
Community Support and Special Guests
The event was further elevated by the presence of distinguished guests, including Michigan Optimists Lieutenant Governor Juanita Bell and Hamtramck Public Schools educator Heather Walsh, whose support highlights the importance of programs that invest in youth development.
Building Confidence, One Speech at a Time
The Optimist Oratorical Contest continues to be a cornerstone program that helps young people build confidence, develop communication skills, and explore their understanding of community and belonging.
The Optimists of Downtown Detroit remain committed to creating opportunities like this that empower the next generation of leaders.
Michelle Kauffold
Scholarship Committee