In last month's Welcome Aboard we shared details with you about the high school students who dazzled Rotarians this year with with their critical thinking and public speaking skills at the annual District Four-Way Test Speech Contest finals on April 9th. Twenty-five Rotary Clubs throughout the District worked with their local high schools to conduct club contests during February and March.
The videos for all the speakers are now available on the District's YouTube channel and on the D7430 Four Way Speech Page.
Understanding, appreciating, and expressing the true meaning of the Four-Way Test is the most important aspect of each speech. Students are asked to choose their own topics, and they ranged from the need to include philosophy in the public school high school curriculum to the damaging effects of social media on our youth. This year the final was held at the District Assembly and the champion presented at Hershey to the Tri-District Conference (7430, 7450 [Philadelphia], 7475 [New Jersey).The contest winners were:
- 1st East Jack Geld – Willow Grove
- 2nd West Emily Wessner – Fleetwood
- 3rd North Mackenzie Laub – Whitehall
- 4th South Sarah Grosch – North Penn
- 5th Central Aditi Mangal – Spring Ford
The contest promotes critical thinking and ethical decision making among high school students. It provides a forum for high school students to showcase issues that they care about. The contest also encourages scholarship and academic research and it allows high school students to practice their public speaking skills. Many times, the students’ thoughtful speeches unravel the complexities of Four-Way Tests in new and innovative ways. If your club hasn’t held a contest yet, you are encouraged to give it a try. There are 69 school districts in the five-county Rotary District 7430 area, so there is plenty of opportunity for 46 clubs.
Al Engel, Chair of the contest, is prepared to respond immediately to any questions you may have. Alengel007@aol.com, 973-216-1469, Past President – Souderton-Telford Club