Kiera McQuaid, Year 13, entered the local round of the Rotary Youth Leadership Competition and after submitting her application was invited to an interview, conducted via Zoom, with the President and Youth Co-ordinator of Banbridge Rotary Club. During her interview, Kiera outlined, among other things, her extracurricular activities and the virtual work experience she had undertaken.

Following her interview, Kiera was chosen to represent Banbridge Academy in the Regional Final and embarked on researching some of the topics she knew would be included in the interview at this stage of the competition; Brexit, Environmentalism and Rotary. After a lot or personal research and with the help of her Government and Politics teacher, Miss McClelland, Kiera began her preparation for the Regional Final which was hosted by Portadown Rotary Club and took place over Zoom towards the end of January. Her hard work paid off and Kiera was informed later that day that she had been successful in securing a place on the Rotary trip to Dublin and Belfast. In previous years, this trip would have taken her to Europe, however, as a result of the Covid restrictions, that trip is not possible this year. Nonetheless, Kiera is very much looking forward to meeting other young people from across Ireland. She wishes to record her thanks to Miss McClelland and Mr Cromie for all their help with her preparation and is very grateful to Banbridge Rotary Club and Mr Louis Boyle for this wonderful opportunity.