This year the Lions of California are proud to sponsor the 85th annual Student Speakers Contest.               

Our challenging topic for the 2025-2026 contest is:

“Youth Mental Health: Overcoming Barriers To Well-Being“

The Student Speakers Foundation was organized in 1960. Its father is Don Snyder, District Governor in Southern California, 1958-59. He asked Past International President Fred Smith and then International Director Dwight Stanford to join him as the organizers and first directors of the Foundation. Don did all the work getting IRS and California taxing authorities approval. He is now a lifetime, honorary Director of the Foundation, as is Dwight Stanford.

​The Foundation’s first cash came from the profits of the Lions Goods Store at the next California Lions State Convention. District Governor Al Mendel of Apple Valley, 1961-62, ran the store and suggested the gift. The first few years of the Foundation were a bit thorny. It was hard for the organization to collect money when it had very little prestige. Gradually the situation changed and the Foundation began to supplement the prizes which heretofore had been paid for entirely out of the California Lions State budget. Foundation funds come entirely from voluntary donations and income from the accumulated assets.

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Important Dates

Club Contest: On or before 3rd Friday in February

Zone Contest: On or before 2nd Friday in March

Region Contest: On or before March 31st

District Contest: On or before last Monday of April

Area Contest: On or before 3rd Friday of May

Final Contest: To be held on Saturday of the June COG

Student speakers forms

Student Speaker Booklet 2026 (PDF)

Judges Worksheet (PDF)

Tellers Worksheet (PDF)

Timers Worksheet (PDF)

Next Level Contest Information (PDF)

Winner notification form (PDF)

student speaker certificate 2026 (PDF)

2025 Student Speakers Contest Finalist Isabella Flores

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