The Tewantin Noosa Lions Club held its public speaking segment of Youth of the Year at the Tewantin Noosa RSL on 18 February.
It showcased the remarkable talents of six students from Good Shepherd Lutheran College and Sunshine Beach State High.
These exceptional young leaders underwent a rigorous evaluation process, including in-depth interviews exploring their academic achievements, leadership qualities, involvement in sports and cultural activities, community contributions, and any awards they’ve received.
The students impressed the judging panel with their dedication and passion for making a difference.
The day culminated in the students demonstrating their poise and critical thinking skills by responding to impromptu questions and delivering prepared speeches to an audience of 70 people.
The esteemed judging panel – Professor Ian Lowe (Noosa Biosphere director), Councillor Amelia Lorentson, and Kerryn Vincart (Tewantin Bendigo Bank manager) – had the challenging task of evaluating such high-calibre performances on a diverse range of topics, from the impact of vaping on our youth through to the consequences of unfiltered access to social media.
Bellamoe Amato Ali of Sunshine Beach State High was the winner of the public speaking segment, and the overall winner of the event was Alexandra von Homeyer from Good Shepherd Lutheran College.
Alexandra will now advance to the district finals with the potential to compete at the national level.
The Lions Australia Youth of the Year program has a proud 50-year history of nurturing the next generation of leaders.
“We are grateful for the generous support of our sponsors: Tewantin Noosa RSL, Bendigo Bank and Amelia Lorentson, who made this event possible. Their commitment to empowering young people is invaluable,“ Bryan Arber from Tewantin Noosa Lions Club said.
“We encourage you to join Tewantin Noosa Lions Club in celebrating these outstanding students and supporting future initiatives that invest in our youth.“
