AMHERST-A high school senior will be representing Zone 3A next month in Sydney, Nova Scotia after winning the Lions’ Speak Out contest this past Saturday in Amherst.
Sarah Colpitts, a grade 12 student who attends Parrsboro Regional High School, spoke about how Facebook changed the world.
“I am here to talk to you about the influence of social media (especially Facebook) and how it has changed the world,” stated Colpitts.
Colpitts’ well-organized speech, which grew out of a high school English assignment, postulated that Facebook was used to organize the Arab Spring movement of 2011 in Egypt.
“Considering that roughly 80% of Facebook’s monthly users live outside of Canada and the United States,” claims Colpitts, “it is not surprising that Facebook prompted the Egyptian uprising.”
As the winner of the zone speak-out competition, Colpitts received $75.00. In addition, she was given $100.00 for meals and $155.60 for lodging when she and a chaperone travel to Sydney, Nova Scotia in late April to compete at the District Convention.
“It feels good to have won,” stated Colpitts. “It was a great experience.”
Fellow Parrsboro Regional High School senior and Parrsboro Lions’ Club representative Destiny Hoeg a finished second while Morgan Brine, a grade 11 student who attends River Hebert District High School, placed third.
Brine represented the Amherst Lions Club, site of Saturday’s speak-out contest.
Hoeg, who spoke about the Denver International Airport Conspiracy Theory, received $50.00 while Brine, who spoke about the serious issue of bullying, received $25.00.
“The speak-out competition instills skills for later on in life when they have to talk and speak out publicly,” said Lion Rubin Millard. “It prepares (young people) for life.”
Mayor Robert Small, CFTA’s Geoff De Gannes and Val Currier formed the judges’ panel while Barry Patriquin and Dan Yarymowich filled the roles of questioners.
