Templeton High sophomore wins Lions Club speech contest
Hope Fardanesh with her parents, Navid and Cynthia.
Hope Fardanesh goes on to the region contest on March 16.
Templeton High School sophomore Hope Fardanesh won the 2015-2016 Zone 1 Lions Club Student Speakers Contest. Zone 1 includes local Lions Clubs from Santa Margarita to San Miguel. Fardanesh was awarded a check for $150 and now goes on to compete in the region contest in Arroyo Grande on March 16. The region is comprised of Lions Club chapters from San Miguel to Nipomo. The region winner advances to the district competition which includes 37 Lions Clubs from Filmore to San Miguel.
Thursday night’s contest, held at the Templeton Lions Club, was for students who won the competitions held by local clubs. Competitors were Matthew Horne, Paso Robles High School senior representing the Paso Robles Lions Club; Carina Womack, San Luis Obispo Classical Academy freshman representing the Santa Margarita Lions Club; Jennifer Garcia, Paso Robles High School sophomore representing Shandon Lions Club; Elizabeth Cortina, North County Christian School senior, representing Atascadero Lions Club and Fardanesh representing Templeton Lions Club.
Competitors left to right: Matthew Horne, Paso Robles High School senior representing the Paso Robles Lions Club; Carina Womack, San Luis Obispo Classical Academy freshman representing the Santa Margarita Lions Club; Jennifer Garcia, Paso Robles High School sophomore representing Shandon Lions Club; Elizabeth Cortina, North County Christian School senior, representing Atascadero Lions Club and Fardanesh representing Templeton Lions Club.
The contestants presented their speeches to an audience of friends, family, Lions Club members and four volunteer judges selected from the community. This year’s topic was “Liberty and Justice for All…What Does It Mean to You?” A new topic is selected every year by the Multiple District (MD-4) California Lions Council of Governors. Contestants work their way up from local Lions Club contests, to compete at the zone level, region, district, area and the final statewide MD-4 competition.
This year marks the 79th annual Student Speakers Contest which is open to all California high school students. The contest gives the students the opportunity to develop public speaking skills and to gain poise and self confidence. District and area winners receive Lions Club scholarships provided by the Lions Fourth District Student Speakers Foundation, a California nonprofit. The foundation is awarding a total of $103,500 worth of scholarships to 2015-2016 regional and area winners. Local clubs also award checks to club and zone winners.
