Kawana MP Jarrod Bleijie again chaired the annual Lake Currimundi- Kawana Lions Youth of the Year competition, with Meridan State College school-captain Eleanor Stuart crowned the local Lions Youth of the Year winner for 2016.

Eleanor came out on top of eight students representing their respective local schools of Pacific Lutheran College, Kawana Waters State College and Meridan State College to claim victory in the 2016 Lake Currimundi-Kawana Lions Club Youth of the Year contest.

Her win allows the 17-year-old school-captain to progress to the regional round with the hope of ultimately taking out the state and national titles.

Lions Youth of the Year is designed to encourage, foster and develop leadership in conjunction with other citizenship qualities in our youth, at the age when they are about to enter the fields of employment or higher education. A high level of academic, leadership, sporting, public speaking and citizenship achievement is sought in its potential winners.

Mr Bleijie, who is the Lake Currimundi-Kawana Lions Club Youth of the Year Chairman, described Eleanor as a standout winner who excelled in the interview round of the judging, and later backed up that effort with comprehensive responses to impromptu questions and a well-rehearsed oral presentation.

“All of the students delivered interesting and informative speeches on the night.

“The substance and quality of discussion lead by all students was of a particularly high standard, but it was Eleanor’s combined strong scores in both the interview and speaking tasks that pushed her to the lead,” Mr Bleijie said.

Eleanor is the school captain of Meridan State College, a keen sportswoman with strong interests in netball and athletics, and a talented student who has also dedicated time to helping others through her local youth and community work.

“Eleanor is a shining example to her peers as a young leader.

“I’m impressed by her involvement across a broad range of academic, sport and community based pursuits and clearly the judges were equally impressed,” Mr Bleijie said.

[END] 23 February 2016