Cowra High School student Maegan Carroll has been named the Cowra Lions Club Youth of the Year for 2019.
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Ms Carroll was named Youth of the Year on Tuesday night in front of family, friends, Lions Club members and staff from Cowra High School.
Ms Carroll has been an active participant at the school and is involved in many academic, cultural and sporting activities including the Wagambirra Aboriginal Dance Group, Camden sporting exchange and public speaking engagements.
She is a Prefect and has an executive role on the Junior Aboriginal Education Consultative Group.
Ms Carroll had to complete a number of tasks on the evening, including an interview, answering general knowledge questions and two impromptu questions and a speech.
She had to address the topics of changing the date of Australia Day and the personal impact of the 75th anniversary of the Cowra Breakout.
Ms Carroll's prepared speech focused on her experience and hardships dealing with attitudes towards her Aboriginal heritage.
She was judged by Zane Southwell from NAB, Cowra Guardian journalist Kelsey Sutor and Cowra Council Community Projects Officer, Lisa Robertson.
A number of students who are hoping to take part in the competition next year also spoke on the night.
Sean Smith spoke on the state of Australian politics, Seikei Exchange student Ryunosuke Akima spoke on his experiences in Australia and Sarah Wood's speech focused on the mental health of farmers during the drought.