Quartz Hill Student wins Desert Region Speech Contest

Serena Allen, a senior at Quartz Hill High School, won the Lions Desert Region Student Speaker Contest on March 25. The Desert Region is comprised of Lions clubs from Acton, Boron, California City, Mojave, Palmdale, Ridgecrest and Tehachapi. Allen already competed in and won the Palmdale Lions Club level contest and the Desert Zone A competition collecting cash prizes at each event. During this event, Allen squared off against the Desert Zone B winner, Sandra Flores of Boron High School. Allen now advances to the District 4-L1 level where she will compete for a $4,500 scholarship against the winners from the Sierra Region, Valley Region and Metro Region.

Judges for the contest were Nick Altieri, Amber Freeman, Jacob Marcischak and Richard Spann. The judges scored each contestant on the content, delivery and overall effectiveness of their speech addressing the topic, "Is the Right to Privacy a Threat to Our National Security?" District 4-L1 Student Speaker Foundation Trustee, Steven Morgan, explained that the contest is administered and funded by the Lions Fourth District Student Speakers Foundation, Inc. a California nonprofit corporation. This year, the foundation will provide scholarships totaling $103,500. From this amount, each of the 15 district winners will receive a $4,500 scholarship, each of the four area winners will receive an additional $6,500 scholarship and the winner of the Multiple District Four Contest will receive an additional $10,000 scholarship.

The Desert Region Lions are cheering for Serena as she prepares for the District contest in Alhambra on April 22. For details about the Lions Club, visit http://www.lionsclubs.org or follow your local Lions Club on Facebook and/or on their local e-clubhouse websites.