Lions Desert Zone B Contest winner

Competition stiffened in the 80th Annual Student Speaker Contest, sponsored by the Lions Club throughout California. Narrowing the field, Sandra Flores has won the Desert Zone B Contest, receiving $150 on a quest to win the $21,000 scholarship prize. Flores, a student at Boron High School, made her first presentation to the Boron Lions Club.

The competition begins at the local level and students progress through the ranks until there is but one winner remaining. Official judges Larry Hill, Sharon Hill, Ted Hodgkinson, Matthew Alexander, Harry Stephens and Joel Arlow, graded each speaker on their ten minute presentation addressing the topic, "Is the Right to Privacy a Threat to Our National Security?"

Held at Ridgecrest City Hall, Lions from surrounding communities listened intently as their sponsored club winner gave a speech, hoping to win the Zone level competition. Finalists that competed against Flores were Danika Hipp from Tehachapi High School, Matthew Cubero from California City High School and Hayley Weik from Burroughs High School in Ridgecrest.

Flores will move to the next level of competition, which is the Region level, where one winner from each Desert Zone will compete, this time for $250. The winner of the Region Level will move to the District where the prize jumps to $4,500. California is divided into 15 Lion Districts, each of which will be sending one Student Speaker winner to the Area Competition. Lions from Desert Zone B are cheering for Sandra as she advances to the Region level and would like to congratulate all the students who have demonstrated the courage and desire to take on this amazing challenge and opportunity. Their willingness to step up and become part of this long standing annual event will benefit them and their communities for years to come.

Lions Club International, is the largest volunteer service organization, with over 1.3 million men and women members worldwide. Improving the quality of life for those less fortunate, regardless of age, and prevention of blindness are the key focuses of Lions Club around the globe. To find out more about Lions, visit: http://www.lionsclubs.org or look up your local Lions Club on Facebook.