Lions Club Youth of the Year 2024

The age at which juvenile offenders should face adult consequences should be lowered.  Do you agree or disagree?

Imagine what it might be like to be given a speech topic like this one, with only one minute preparation time and a time limit of two minutes to reach.

For Year 12 students Kiana Campbell and Kade Herbert, that imagining became a reality last weekend when they were Pacific Lutheran College’s representatives in the annual Lions Youth of the Year competition at the Caloundra Lions Club.

Kiana and Kade submitted rigorous application forms documenting their academic achievements, their community involvement and their ambitions for the future.  They participated in an interview where they spoke to the interview panel about the content of their application and were asked a series of general knowledge questions. 

Later in the day, they had to deliver two impromptu speeches; the topics included The age at which juvenile offenders should face adult consequences should be lowered.  Do you agree or disagree? And mobile phones have been banned in state schools across Queensland.  What do you think was behind this initiative?

Kade and Kiana performed admirably, formulating thoughtful responses and managing the pressure of thinking on their feet. The five-minute prepared speeches followed the impromptus, and all contestants presented passionate perspectives on various issues that impressed and entertained the judges and the Lions, parents and teachers in the audience.

Youth of the Year 2024 was a rich experience for our students, and we give thanks to the Lions Club of Caloundra for the opportunity for Pacific students to engage in events that assist in building important life skills and develop valuable evidence for university scholarship applications in the future.

We also thank Kiana and Kade for being excellent ambassadors for our College and for their warm engagement with their fellow competitors and with the members of the Lions Club of Caloundra.    

Mrs Rae Hall, Head of English