HIGH school students enter the annual Lions Youth of the Year Quest by completing a written application and attending a formal interview.

Students then compete in a public speaking competition with impromptu speeches of two minutes then five minute prepared speeches.

The Toormina High School 2021 School Captain, Ellena Cheers-Flavell won the speaking competition and was also named the overall winner at the dinner on February 16 and will now represent Bonville/Sawtell Lions Club at the regional final in Nambucca Heads next month.

Cooper Bake-Smith, also a 2021 Toormina High School Captain, was recently awarded an Australian Defence Force Future Innovators Award.

This award recognises rising young, talented, innovative students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics who will contend with the challenges of a fast evolving, technological world.

Cooper achieved a Band 6 in Mathematics Advanced and E4 in Mathematics Extension 1 in 2020.

E4 is the equivalent of a band 6 in an extension subject.

Cooper is continuing his learning and is currently completing Mathematics Extension 2.

Cooper and Ellena are admirable representatives of Toormina High School and inspiring role models for junior students.