From left to right Michele Masterson, student Maxwell Masterson, John Masterson, teacher East Carteret teacher Julia Brown, Curtis Gillikin, student Emily Gillikin, and Katrina Gillikin at the Optimist International Zone oratorical contest.

Addressing the 2013 topic “My Voice is Important Because. . .,” East Carteret freshmen Emily Gillikin and Maxwell Masterson represented Carteret County as the top speakers at the Optimist International Zone level competition last month on April 16^th, in Goldsboro against ten other students from the state vying for the honor to compete at the state level this coming Saturday, May 18^th, in Wilson.

Emily Gillikin, daughter of Curtis and Katrina Gillikin, won honorable mention, and Maxwell Masterson, son of John and Michele Masterson won first place at zone. 

On Saturday, May 18, 2013, Maxwell Masterson won $1,000 for third place at the North Carolina state level in Wilson.  Members of the Carteret County Optimist Club, under the leadership of Denard and Kay Harris of Portside Marina made this local student participation possible.  The Optimists hope that these students continue to participate throughout their high school careers bringing all the message of hope, faith, and love to mankind.