Remembering Optimists We’ve Lost
Learn more about the Optimists we've lost in the Nebraska District during the 2023/2024 year.
It has become a tradition at each Nebraska District convention, usually held in late summer, to honor the Optimist members we’ve lost in the past year. Their dedication to their Optimist Clubs and our creed is unmistakable.
And it will be missed by all who knew them.
Click here to download the PDF file celebrating the lives of these Optimists.
2022 Tri-Star Football PPK Champions
One hundred seventeen contestants traveled to Abel Stadium at Nebraska Wesleyan University on October 2nd to compete in the finals of the Nebraska Optimist Tri Star Football Punt, Pass, & Kick Contest.
One hundred seventeen contestants traveled to Abel Stadium at Nebraska Wesleyan University on October 2nd to compete in the finals of the Nebraska Optimist Tri Star Football Punt, Pass, & Kick Contest. They were part of the 181 eligible winners from 17 Nebraska Optimist Club local contests and competed for 5 trophies in each of 10 age categories in both boy and girl divisions.
Participants attended from the following clubs: Auburn, Columbus, David City, Denton, Holdrege, Kearney, Lincoln, Lincoln Evening, Lincoln Sunrise, Lincoln West, McCook, Minden, Norfolk Noon, Omaha Breakfast, Papillion-LaVista, Paxton, and Seward.
Winners were:
Age Name Club
6 – Boys 1. Chasen Atchison(77’11”) Lincoln OC
2. Creighton Kennedy McCook
3. James Peters Lincoln West
4. Lucas Jensen Columbus
5. Gaden Smith David City
7 – Boys 1. Barett Schulz (180’) Norfolk Noon
2. William Douglass Seward
3. Barker Brandt Kearney
4. Brennen Bassinger Lincoln Sunrise
5. Chett Lucero McCook
8 – Boys 1. Will Symington (144’9”) Kearney
2. Ryan Bohling Lincoln Evening
3. Braxton Erickson Papillion-LaVista
4. Chase Tebo Lincoln Sunrise
5. Hudson Pohl Minden
9 – Boys 1. Kyler Davenport (181’) Holdrege
2. Cooper Wembhoff Columbus
3. Rowan Altwine Norfolk Noon
4. Jayden Fitzgerald Lincoln Sunrise
5. Lane Laux Holdrege
10 – Boys 1. Braxton Schroeder (295’8”) Kearney
2. Jerrod Andel David City
3. Cameron McCurthy Minden
4. Marimus Parker Lincoln West
5. Cruz Hadley Holdrege
11 – Boys 1. Jordan Pollmann (236’4”) McCook
2. Konner Steinmetz Holdrege
3. Ryker Trukse David City
4. Eli Jackson Seward
5. Tyler Draper Lincoln West
12 – Boys 1. Nolan Larson (329’7”) Kearney
2. Tyler Hubbard Lincoln Sunrise
3. Treighton Higby Norfolk Noon
4. William Erickson Holdrege
5. Zac Esson Lincoln Evening
13 – Boys 1. Manny Venegas (271’0”) David City
2. Korbin Jasper Columbus
3. Hayden Symington Kearney
4. Matthew Vieyra Lincoln Sunrise
5. Jesse Connick Paxton
14 – Boys 1. Grant Kozisek (317’1”) David City
2. Layne Donner Columbus
3. Colton Larson Kearney
15 - Boys 1. Noah Connick (262’8”) Paxton
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6 – Girls 1. Alex Foote (23’8”) Lincoln Sunrise
2. Emmersyn Sintek Lincoln OC
3. Della Gropp Denton
7 – Girls 1. Ellie Golliglee (46’11”) Lincoln West
2. Aspen Samuels Seward
3. Perla Venegas David City
4. Anna Bahm Lincoln Evening
8 – Girls 1. Brooklyn Fitzgerald (99’0”) Lincoln Evening
2. Bentley Potter Paxton
3. Reece Nordlay Kearney
4. Lilyana Parker Lincoln Sunrise
5. Casey Fitzgerald Lincoln OC
9 – Girls 1. Ellie Hartwell (113’7”) McCook
2. Belle Wilkinson Lincoln OC
3. Macie Meyers Lincoln Evening
10 – Girls 1. Jaylee Costillo (160’11”) McCook
2. Londyn Myers Lincoln Sunrise
3. Ellie Murrish Kearney
4. Jessica Viera Lincoln Evening
5. Sophie Dudck Papillion-LaVista
11 - Girls 1. Leyton Michaelis (172’0”) Papillion-LaVista
2. Lily McAfee Lincoln OC
12 - Girls 1. Alice Wiemer (221’4”) McCook
2. Evelyn Dady Lincoln West
3. Elizabeth Viera Lincoln OC
4. Haley Fitzgerald Lincoln Evening
5. Danica Romshek David City
13 - Girls 1. Mackenzie Sanchez (129’5” Paxton
14 - Girls 1. Hadleigh Kramer (170’3”) Paxton
2. Katey Reichel Lincoln Evening
3. Brooklyn Blunt Denton
15 - Girls 1. Jordyn Donner (216’5”) Columbus
MAYF Preps for 2022 Fundraiser
The Metro Area Youth Foundation, a nonprofit organization near and dear to so many Optimist Club members in Nebraska, is making plans for its 2022 fundraising campaign.
The Metro Area Youth Foundation, a nonprofit organization near and dear to so many Optimist Club members in Nebraska, is making plans for its 2022 fundraising campaign. A handful of in-person events are scheduled and the online fundraising campaign will kick off in the coming months.
To learn more about the work of MAYF, who it supports, and how Optimist Clubs can help, view the following video.
Many thanks to Nani Reed and Strawhecker Nonprofit Services for their partnership with MAYF!
Nebraska District Optimist International Essay Winners
Hello, Nebraska Optimists! We’d like to announce the winners of the 2021-2022 Nebraska District Optimist International Essay Contest!
All of the essay writers did an outstanding job and are to be congratulated for the exceptional way that they expressed their ideas.
Hello, Nebraska Optimists! We’d like to announce the winners of the 2021-2022 Nebraska District Optimist International Essay Contest!
All of the essay writers did an outstanding job and are to be congratulated for the exceptional way that they expressed their ideas. The winners are:
First Place: Rae Lynn Sugden, Lincoln Evening Optimist Club
Second Place: Benjamin Lyons, David City Optimist Club
Third Place: Megan Lambert, Miracle Hills Optimist Club
Thank you to our club presidents and essay contest sponsors who helped these young people succeed. Rae Lynn's essay will be submitted next week to Optimist Internation who will contact Rae Lynn directly. All participants will receive a certificate of participation.
Thank you again for your continued support of young people and their valuable efforts!
There will be a more public announcement and the schools of these three winners will be contacted next week as well.
Stay safe and optimistic!
Gloria J. Epps, Nebraska District Optimist International Essay Contest Chair