2027 Topic
“Should We Return to Teaching Life Skills in the High School Experience?”

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, 2026 for FREE.
No packets will be available after October 1st.  All materials are available on the MD4 Website.

Student Speaker Contest Dates 2026-2027

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 fourth Friday in May
State Final Competition on June 12, 2026, in Modesto

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 a 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 a single payment. Dwight E. Stanford Fellow – will be conferred upon any named individual upon receipt of a contribution of $300.00 to the Foundation, payable in a 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 a single payment.

Donations to the Foundation are deductible under both the state of California and the federal tax 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 Betty Morris
C: 559.967.0209 E: morris_bl@yahoo.com

Student Speaker Trustee: Vacant