NORTH FORK – Five area high school students stepped up to deliver a speech on the subject “Community Service – What Does It Mean and Why Does It Matter” at the 77th annual Lions Club Student Speakers Contest on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
“This competition allows students to explore different topics, compete among themselves and share their thoughts with us,” said Jon Norby, Student Speakers Contest Chairman.
Each student is allotted 10 minutes for their presentation, and are judged on the their content, delivery and the overall effectiveness of their speech.
This year’s participants were Mikayal Kopp, senior at Minarets High School; David Broyles, also a senior at Minarets; Joshua Lynch, freshman at Chawanakee Academy; Michael Warnert, sophomore, and Maribeth Villanueve, junior, both students at Minarets.
Mikayla was awarded $75 for her win in this first round, and the other competitors received $25 each. The winner goes on to compete at the Zone contest on Mar. 13, at 3 p.m., at the Oakhurst Branch Library.
Last year’s winner Breanna Cairns, a senior at Minarets, went on to win four more competitions – Zone, Region, District and Area – advancing to the finals in Torrance, CA.
Breanna became the first student from North Fork to advance past the third level in the annual competition, and won over $11,000 in scholarships from the Lions Club.
At this year’s contest, Norby shared that Breanna had put together a framed commemoration of her experience and presented it to the North Fork Lions Club with her thanks for their incredible support.
Judges for the competition were Joann Brown, Mary Proper, Dr. Ed Fey and Gina Clugston.
