Melita Corbin
The Emerald Lions Club hosted the club finals of the Youth of the Year Quest earlier this month.
The three wonderful contestants for the competition were Emerald Christian College school captains Emilia Schick and Caleb Wright, and Emerald State High School school captain Madison Iles.
The national program included a formal interview, two impromptu questions and a five-minute prepared speech.
All contestants acquitted themselves very well and were a credit to their respective schools, teachers, parents and themselves.
The judging panel said the students were very talented and a delight to have the pleasure to meet and evaluate with the set criteria.
Madison Iles was crowned the overall winner, with Emilia Schick representing Emerald Christian College won the public speaking segment.
As this Emerald club is the only club in its region to hold a final, Madison will represent the Emerald Lions Club and its region at the District finals in Biloela on the March 27.
The winner of the District finals will then compete in the State finals on April 16 and 17 and the winner of the State finals will compete at the National finals in Canberra in May.
The Lions Youth of the Year program was established more than 50 years ago with the objective of developing and honing participants’ skills associated with interview technique, personal interaction, networking, public speaking and ‘thinking on your feet’.
As participants leave school and enter employment or further education such skills will be invaluable tools in establishing their career path on a positive trajectory.
