With lights flicking off and on, chatter in the hallway, and even a phone ding, this year’s Four-Way Test Speech Contest participants faced their share of distractions. But they still managed to make the decision a difficult one for the judges, so much so the top two were only one point apart.
Presented to the Bellefontaine Rotary Club at their regular Monday meeting March 6, this typically annual contest —they’re back on track after missing a few years due to covid — allows the club to increase its involvement in the community. In this case, specifically through local high school students.
“It teaches them to apply concepts of leadership themes to other aspects of their lives,” Sally Stolly, competition chair, said. “Everything we say or do and go through relates to the principles of the four-way test.”
After being chosen to represent their respective schools, five students showed up at Monday’s meeting to compete: Jack Varner and Emily Taylor (both juniors from Bellefontaine), Madison Mescher (senior, Riverside), Sierra DeWeese (senior, Indian Lake) and Ireland Dulen (junior, Ohio Hi-Point). Each had four to six minutes to speak from memory.
In keeping with the Rotary Club’s Four-Way Test, speeches had to emphasize the concepts of leadership, service to others and life experience. The content was given points based on four questions:
- Is it the truth?
- Is it fair?
- Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
- Will it be beneficial?
They were also judged on originality, organization, language usage and delivery. Among those on the judging panel were Bellefontaine Mayor Ben Stahler, Rotary immediate past-president Angel Payne, and Examiner general manager T.J. Hubbard. All judges are members of the Rotary Club.
Mescher took first place, winning a prize of $200. Second place and $100 went to DeWeese, and Taylor placed third with a $50 reward. Mescher and DeWeese will next have the opportunity to participate in the district competition at Wright State University on Sunday, March 26.