Stratton-Eustis Lions Club Speak Out Chairwoman Patricia Franz awards second place to Donald Millay, while first place winner Samantha Atwood looks on.

Mt. Abram junior wins speaking contest

SALEM – Samantha Atwood, a junior at Mt. Abram High School, won the local Lions Club Speak Out competition on Feb. 29 at Mt. Abram. The contest was sponsored by the Stratton-Eustis Lions Club.

Atwood’s speech was her first public speaking event. She has been acting in high school events for the past three years.

Donald Millay, also a junior at Mt. Abram, who is interested in playing music, was the second-place winner.

Lions Clubs throughout Maine sponsor the program to emphasize the importance of public speaking to young people everywhere.

Paula Beach, past district governor of Maine, and Duane Burbank, member of the Skowhegan Lions Club, were among the judges.

Patricia Franz, Speak Out chairwoman for the Stratton-Eustis club, said she was impressed by the contestants and the subjects they chose.

Atwood will go to the regional competition on Saturday, March 29, at the Manchester Lions Den.

The winner of that event will participate in the statewide competition at the Maine Lions convention held at Samoset Resort in Rockport the weekend of April 25 to 27.