Proserpine’s Youth Of The Year Final

Proserpine Lions Club Youth of the Year and Proserpine State High School student Scarlett Foti competed in the district final of Youth of the Year, representing the Proserpine Lions club on Saturday, March 18.  

Having won both Overall Winner and Public Speaking awards at first Club level in Proserpine, and then again at Zone level in Home Hill, Scarlett headed to the Townsville Lions Club for the district level competition.

Five accomplished teenagers from across North Queensland took part with their speaking performances ranging from “polished and persuasive to charming and humorous.”

“It made for an entertaining night for the audience, albeit a very difficult one for the judges. It was an extremely close result again this year,” Proserpine Lion’s Youth of the Year Chair Jane Betteridge said.

The Overall winner was Yaseen Al Kahlout from Malanda State High School. Yaseen also won the Community award for participation in his community.

Proserpine Lions congratulated Scarlett on her excellent performance and her response to the impromptu topics, "There is no such thing as normal" and "We know artificial intelligence is presenting fantastic possibilities, but what do you see as its downsides?" was articulate, well timed and thought-provoking.  

“Congratulations Scarlett; another great effort,” Ms Betteridge said.

“Proserpine Lions Club is proud to call you one of our own.”

Scarlett now moves on to her next project - establishing a programme to help neurodivergent children within the Proserpine community study effectively and cope with stress during high school.

Youth of the Year (YOTY) District Chair Pat Young, Townsville Ignatius Park College student Daniel Mosch, St Patricks College Mackay student Megan Connolly, St Augustines College Cairns student Darcy Oates, Proserpine State High School student Scarlett Foti, and Malanda State High student Yaseen Al Kahlout at the YOTY District Final