CARROLLTON, GA — Last weekend, Carrollton High School rising senior Shad McMillan placed third in the  Optimist Oratorical World Championship finals with his speech on “Discovering the Optimism in Me.” Shad received $12,500 in college scholarships after winning first place in the club, zone, area, district, and southeast region contests. The World Championship finals took place on July 21 at the St. Louis University Center for Global Citizenship in Missouri. Pictured from left are CHS teacher Richard Bracknell, President of the Optimist International Foundation Debbie Merritt. President of the Optimist International Bob McGarland and President of the Carrollton Optimist Club Gerald Johnson.