4 Way Test Essay Contest

Skillful Presenters and Writers Cover Weighty topics using the 4-Way Test 

/ jinnyn

The 4-Way Test is an ethical problem-solving tool, the subject of which area middle school students write essays and area high school students write speeches for presentation.  Ben Hodge, Superintendent of Avon Local Schools and North Coast Rotary’s Speech and Essay Contest Chair, coordinates both programs with the assistance of Avon, Avon Lake and Brookside teachers.  2024 marked the 12th year for North Coast Rotary’s Speech Contest and the 8th year for the Essay Contest.  

This year, Max Wojtus, Avon High School, won North Coast Rotary’s 4-Way Test Speech Contest and went on to compete with 15 other speech contest winners in the recent District competition. Avon High School junior Anika Singh placed second in North Coast Rotary’s contest; Avon Lake’s Kamryn Hess placed third and Avon Lake’s Tyler Birk and Brookside’s Bree Fawley placed fourth.  Speech topics included: Why Smoking Cigarettes Should be Banned; Money Can’t Buy Happiness; Child Abuse; Hypermasculinity; and Being a Woman in STEM.

Twelve students, six each, from Avon’s and Avon Lake’s middle school participated in the 4-Way Test Essay contest.  They were the top twelve of many submissions.  Six won cash awards and all students were recognized with certificates.  “Embracing Uniqueness” the essay written by an Avon Lake Student; won first place overall and first place for Avon Lake.  Avon Student’s submission “AI in the Art Community” placed second overall and placed first for Avon; and Avon Lake student’s essay “Honesty is the Best Policy” placed 3rd overall and second place for Avon Lake.  Three other Student’s essays won cash awards. 

 

We commend those students who participate in these competitions; they invest extra time and effort to understand and apply ethical decision-making tools like the 4-Way test. North Coast Rotary also recognizes and thanks the teachers, and speech and essay judges who assist us in these programs. 

Congratulations to 7th and 8th Grade 4-Way Test Essay Contest Winners!

/ jinnyn

This spring, for the seventh year, Avon and Avon Lake 7th and 8th grade students participated in North Coast Rotary’s essay contest.  Each student prepares an essay applying an ethical decision-making tool (the 4-way test) to their life experiences or society.  Both Districts submit their top finalists to North Coast Rotary’s competition.  A committee of Rotarians reviews and evaluates each essay for focus, content development, style, and other factors and selects first, second and third place winners. 

Congratulations to these students for their effort and achievement, and much thanks to their Language Arts teachers for their support in this endeavor.  

Avon Lake’s Caroline Wells, Lucia Durbin and Aubrey Kozar won 1st, 2nd and 3rd place respectively for the overall competition and for their school district. 

Fatma Abdelnaby, Isabella Gentile and Reagan Sudik won 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for Avon.  

4th Place finalists included Deana Abedeljaber, Ava Luchesi, Jocelin Ochs, Amira Owens, Baya Rojek and Kaylin Whatley.

Adopted by Rotary in 1943, The Four-Way Test asks that of the things we think, say or do: 

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all Concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Congratulations to our Essay Contest awardees!

/ northcoastrotary

1st place:  Wolfgang Burgess, Avon Middle School  

2nd place:  Thomas Bilczo, Sheffield Middle School  

3rd place:  Aamenah Mohamed, Avon Middle School  

“The kids were super excited to receive their certificates and prize money – It was fun!” exclaimed Rotarian Ben Hodge who personally delivered the awards to the winning students.  

First-place winner, Wolfgang Burgess, has had his essay entered into the Rotary District 6600’s Essay Competition.  

Recognized for making it to the Club Round of the Contest are: Abigail Hill from Learwood Middle School; Brookside Middle School students: Mya Sweeney, Sydney Williams, Amber Aberts, Haileigh Smith, and Mackenna Herrmann and Avon Middle School students:   Hannah Slivochka, Emma Yanasak, Anika Singh and Isabella Keller.  Each Club Round Participant received a certificate and letter in the mail from North Coast Rotary.

North Coast Rotary also wishes to recognize the teachers and administrators who supported this program in all three middle schools.

  • 1st Place Winner
  • 2nd Place Winner
  • 3rd Place Winner