Lions Club Student Speaker Contest winner Aurora Spalding, holding pamphlet, is flanked by Dixon Lion’s Club members and judges provided by Toastmasters International of Dixon. Toastmasters courtesy photo

DIXON, CA (MPG) - For a better world, what would you change? That was the question asked of three Dixon High School students who competed at the 87th annual Dixon Lions Club Student Speakers Contest. Student Aurora Spalding had a few ideas. She was awarded $100 cash for her thoughts and ultimately could win a $10,000 scholarship.

“She was very prepared and didn’t have to look at her notes,” said Lion’s Club member James Bounds, Jr. “She was truly engaged with her audience.”

The Dixon 6870 Toastmasters Club and the Fairfield-Suisun Orators Toastmaster Club 4527 were invited to be judges.

“I wrote ‘empathy’ and ‘altruism’ on my notes, and she was very passionate,” said Toastmasters judge Lynda Mendez. “I felt she really was looking to raise the generosity of other people where there is waste in the world. She spoke about how we have to help each other and emphasized one step at a time and one person at a time. The importance of being the change.”

The contest was open to all Dixon High School students and two other students, Brianna Venegas and Noah Ruiz also spoke. Spalding will now move to the next level of competition. The contest has been sponsored locally for many years by the Dixon Lions Club.

The scholarships are sponsored by the Fourth District Student Speaker Foundation, a California nonprofit corporation administered by a board of directors and 15 trustees.

The purpose of the Foundation is to provide scholarships to augment the prizes awarded to the winners of the California Multiple District Four Student Speakers Program.

This year the Foundation will provide scholarships totaling more than $100,000.

Awards for this year's contest: The Club Winner $ 75 and $ 25 to each finalist. Zone winner $100; Region Winner $150; District Winner $4,500 Scholarship; Area Winner $ 6,500 Scholarship and the California State Winner will receive a $10,000 Scholarship.