MD4 Student speaker Contest Information

2026 Topic
“Youth Mental Health: Overcoming Barriers to Well-Being”

The Lions Student speaker Contest is a California State wide public speaking contest for high school students. Each level a student winner is awarded scholarship money and recognition for their speech.

Awards for this year contest:

  • Club Winner $ 75 and $ 25 to each finalist.
  • Zone winner $ 100
  • Region Winner $ 150
  • District Winner $ 4,500 Scholarship
  • Area Winner $ 6,500 Scholarship
  • California State Winner $ 10,000 Scholarship.

Contact your nearest Lions Club to see how you can get involved if you are a high school student in any of the counties listed below: Tulare County, Kern County, Fresno County, Kings County.

Request a packet here:
https://md4lions.org/student-speakers-contest

Order your Packet before October 1, 2025 for FREE.
No packets will be available after October 1st.  All materials are available on the MD4 Website.

Student Speaker Contest Dates 2025-2026

Club contest no later than the third Friday in February
Zone contest no later than the second Friday in March
Region contest no later than Mar 31
District contests no later than the fourth Monday in Apr
Area contests no later than the third Friday in May
State Final Competition on June 13, 2025 in Los Angeles

Support Student Speaker Contest:
Donations can be made: By personal & club donations. By memorial gifts to honor departed Lions & friends. By gifts of property, stocks, or bonds. By including the foundation in your will. By listing Lions Fourth District Student Speaker Foundation Inc. as a benefactor on your Amazon Smile account.

Honor someone with a: Fred W. Smith Fellow – will be conferred upon any named individual upon receipt of a contribution of $500.00 or more to the Foundation, payable in one single payment. Donald E. Snyder Fellow – will be conferred upon any named individual upon receipt of a contribution of $400.00 or more to the Foundation, payable in one single payment. Dwight E. Stanford Fellow – will be conferred upon any named individual upon a receipt of a contribution of $300.00 to the Foundation, payable in one single payment. Harry J. Asian Fellow – will be conferred upon any named individual upon receipt of a contribution of $200.00 to the Foundation payable in one single payment.

Donations to the Foundation are deductible under both the state of California and the federal taxing regulations under IRC 501 (c)(3) and should be made payable to the “4th District Student Speakers Foundation, Inc.”

Contest Forms

Timers worksheet Tellers worksheet Judges worksheet Judges responsibilities Next level form Winner notification form

4-A2 Committee Chair: PDG Anthony Martinez
C: 559.433.8737 E: iamlionanthony@yahoo.com

Student Speaker Trustee: Vacant

Club

Rosedale Highway Lions Club – 2/10/26 6:00 PM; Centennial Elementary School, 15200 Westdale, Bakersfield

Ridgecrest Lions Club – 2/12/26 6:30 PM; Ridgecrest City Hall, 100 W California Ave Ridgecrest, CA 93555

Tehachapi Lions Club – 2/12/26 6:30 PM; Senior Center, 500 East F Street, Tehachapi

Visalia Pride Lions Club – Feb 17, 2026; 6:30 pm, St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Visalia

California City Lions Club – Date: 02/03/2026, Complete

Hanford Breakfast Lions Club – Date: 02/03/2026, Complete

Kings Lions Club – 1/21/26 Complete

McFarland Lions Club – 2/5/26 Complete

Zone

Northern Region

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

Zone 4

Central Region

Zone 1 – Mar 9, 2026, 6:30 pm; St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Visalia

Zone 2

Zone 3

Western Region

Zone 1

Zone 2 – 3/11/ 26; 6:30 pm; Lemoore Civic Auditorium

Southern Region

Zone 1 – Date: 2/19/26, 6:00 PM. Church of the Living Savior, 149 5th St, McFarland

Zone 2 – Date: 3/2/26, 6:00 PM. Centennial Elementary School, 15200 Westdale, Bakersfield

Zone 3 -Date: 3/2/26, 6:00 PM. Centennial Elementary School, 15200 Westdale, Bakersfield

Zone 4 -Date: 2/18/26, 6:00 PM. American Legion Hall, 8108 Bay Ave, California City

Region

Northern Region Contest – Mar

Central Region Contest – Mar 30, 2026, 6:30 pm; St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Visalia

Western Region Contest – Date: 03/18/2026, 6:15 PM sharp
Location: Salvation Army, Hanford
Cost: $20 per Lion (includes an Indian meal of chicken, rice, garlic fried naan, vegetable curry, salad, and dessert); $5 per Leo.
RSVP: Needed by 03/12/2026. Wear anything green

Southern Region Contest – Date: 3/21/26, 11:00 am; Buttonwillow LC Lions Den, 173 N. Main St, Buttonwillow

District

District Contest – April 25, 2026; Wyndham Hotel Airport, Fresno