Lemoore Middle College student wins local Kings Lions Club speech competition; will advance to Lions Zone Level competition

Sophie Johnson, an 11th-grade student at the school, delivered a speech judged to be the best in the annual California Lions Student Speakers Kings Lions Club Contest. Multiple District Four California Lions Clubs International is sponsoring the program to emphasize the importance of public speaking as a critically important life skill to young people everywhere.

Kings County Supervisor Joe Neves, local educator Brian Tashima, and local real estate agent Gina Tashima picked Johnson's speech for its originality, main points being supported by evidence, conclusion, emphasis, voice control enunciation, pronunciation, sincerity, enthusiasm, poise, cohesive effort, logic, organization, speaker persuasiveness and adhering to the topic, “Freedom of the Press: What Does It Mean?”

The Kings Lions Club’s Student Speakers Contest Chairman, Lion Tom Wells, said he was impressed by the expression and creativity of the Sophie.  “It is obvious that these young people have strong ideas about current events. I’m so proud that we were able to provide them with the opportunity to share their views and skill.”

Johnson will advance through the district levels, to compete at the multiple district state level of the competition if she is to accrue scholarships worth $10,000,” Wells said.

The contestants can win various amounts of scholarships along the way to the final contest. “Our club is proudly promoting Sophie as she advances in the competition, and we hope that her self-expression and independent thinking inspires the public’s perspective on this topic,“ said Wells.

Locally, Johnson and three other local high school students will be competing at the Lions Zone Level Contest on Tuesday, March 12th  at 6:30, at the Salvation Army Building located at 380 East Ivy Street, Hanford, CA.