Events

HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR RECOGNITION

An annual event since 1966, SOC honors Southern California graduating High School seniors of Japanese ancestry. The seniors are invited to a semi-formal dinner and have an opportunity to listen to a relevant guest speaker. Each graduate is acknowledged for their scholastic achievements and community involvement and receives the Suburban Optimist’s Youth Recognition Achievement Award that evening. Four to six scholarships are also presented to deserving applicants at the evening’s event. This event is chaired by Kasie Leung.

Information on the 2022 event: The Suburban Optimist Club of Buena Park (Member club of Optimist International) will be sponsoring our 57th annual Senior Recognition event to honor graduating seniors of Japanese ancestry for the 2021/2022 school year. Due to the Southern California COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings, our annual awards dinner was not held this year. However as in past, the Suburban Optimist Club will be offering a number of scholarship awards to qualifying high school seniors.

SOC would like to congratulate our 57th annual 2022 Senior Recognition scholarship winners:

Wyatt Hamabe
Catherine Ishii (Jun and Toshiko Fukushima Memorial Scholarship)
Michelle Lee
Taryn Noda
Mitchell Rivera (Octagon)
Melina Reyes (Jim Takata Memorial Scholarship)
Audrey Tengan
Aaron Tom
Steven Yano

Due to Covid19, we weren't able to celebrate together with our seniors but we were able to offer the scholarship portion. With the generous of our sponsors, SOC was able to award total 9 scholarships. Huge Thanks go to the Tanaka family, Takata family and Fukushima family!

Congratulation to all the current and past high school seniors!

SOC GOLF TOURNAMENT

Another of our major fundraisers each year is the Annual Suburban Optimist Club Golf Tournament. Proceeds from this event support the many youth programs that are conducted throughout the year. This event is held on the Monday prior to Memorial day at Yorba Linda Country Club.

Mark your calendars for our 2022 event on Monday May 23, 2022 @ Yorba Linda Country Club
REGISTRATION: 8:00 AM - SHOTGUN START: 10:00 AM

For the entry, paste this address into your Browser: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Yx4MOHRLwF7taSpXJURfz8FhvBA0gSWC/view?usp=sharing

Deadline for Entry - May 1, 2022
(Entry includes a chance for $1,000,000 Hole in One)

This event is chaired by Eiji Yoshihiro: and Miles Yano.

SOC is a Proud 10 Year Sponsor of
Tanaka Farms and the OCO Club
Walk the Farm

Come on SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2021 and support with us the 10th annual Walk the Farm, a one mile walk around Tanaka Farms where you can pick your own fruits and vegetables right off of the vine to sample freshness as it is meant to be enjoyed! This year you will need to pre-register for an assigned check in time. You can sign up here: https://www.walkthefarm.org/

100% of the net proceeds go to providing support for farmers suffering from natural disasters, scholarships for students of Iwate University's School of Agriculture, and grants for new farmers who are focused on rebuilding and renewing areas that were affected by the Great Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami.

SOC CHRISTMAS PARTY

SOC Sponsored Christmas Party for the Boys and Girls Club of Garden Grove

Christmas Party for the Boys and Girls Club of Garden Grove

SOC believes that all kids regardless of their situation should enjoy a memorable holiday season, and for over 25 years we have partnered with the Garden Grove Boys and Girls Club to host a Holiday party for less privileged families. This has become one of our most enjoyable traditions. However due to the COVID 19 situation a party could not be scheduled this year, so instead a drive through Christmas dinner was provided. This event is chaired by Sharon Okazaki.

SOC/OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL SPONSORED CONTESTS

Our annual events chaired by Kent and Nancy Suzuki. Contact Us for Additional Information

ORATORICAL

The contest is designed for youth to gain experience in public speaking, perfect self-expression, gain self-assurance, improve communication skills, and provide them with the opportunity to compete for a Optimist International sponsored college scholarship.

The contest is open to youth under the age of 19 as of October 1st of the current Optimist International contest year (October 1 – September 30) and is not enrolled as a degree seeking student of a post-secondary institution. There is no minimum age.

Interested youth should prepare a 4 to 5 minute speech on the assigned topic to be presented at SOC's event. The speeches are judged at the Club level, Zone level, District Regional level (if needed) and then at the District level prior to the Optimist International Oratorical World Championships. Clubs and Districts may choose to allow contestants to compete via online streaming.

ESSAY

The Essay Contest is to give young people the opportunity to write about their own opinions regarding the world in which they live. The approach can encompass a young person’s personal experience, the experience of their country or a more historical perspective. In additional to developing skills for written expression, participants also have the opportunity to win a college scholarship.

Club winners advance to the District contest to compete for a $2,500 college scholarship. The District-level scholarships are funded by the Optimist International Foundations.

All Club-level contests are held by early February. Student submissions will not be accepted after the Club-level contests have closed. Topic for the 2020-21 school year is: "Reaching your Dreams by Choosing Optimism" to be qualified you must be under the age of 19 as of October 1, 2020 (and is not enrolled as a degree seeking student of a post-secondary institution).
Congratulations to Ty Nishikawa, 2021 Club Winner.

SOC PANCAKE BREAKFAST

One of our major fundraisers to support activities to build self esteem in youth. Funds are used for our many youth activities including high school scholarships and sponsorship of SEYO youth athletic program. Tickets may be purchased from members of the individual SEYO organizations, Suburban Optimist members or at the breakfast. This event is normally held in Spring at Orange County Buddhist Church. This event is chaired by Dan Fukushima and Al Baez.

Our next Pancake Breakfast is scheduled for Saturday April 2, 2022 at Orange County Buddhist Church - 909 S. Dale Ave, Anaheim, CA, 92804. This will be a Drive Through event and will be held 8:00 - 11:00 AM. Tickets are $7 Featuring the Famous SOC Pancakes, Eggs, Sausage, and Fruit.

BOY AND GIRL SCOUTS RECOGNITION

Each year the SOC organization strives to advance its mission of serving the youth and continuing to make a difference in the community. One of our events is a dinner to recognize the the achievement of the Boy Scout rank of Eagle Scout and Girl Scout Gold Award. The 2021 Recognition Dinner was cancelled this year due to COVID-19 but we plan to resume this celebration event in Spring 2022.

This annual event is chaired by Kent Suzuki.

Major Club Events