4 Way Test

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

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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 Speech Contest Winners!

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Students representing Avon, Avon Lake and Brookside High Schools challenged themselves in the North Coast Rotary 4-Way Test Speech Contest, now in its tenth year.  Dr. Cathy Pugh, Rotarian and speech contest judge said, “The students were an impressive group, poised and prepared and they chose interesting and timely topics.”  

Dylan Roof, Avon HS earned 1st place recognition and will proceed to the Rotary District Speech contest.  Camryn Evans, also from Avon HS earned 2nd place.  Both Avon Lake HS student Seamus Sinclair and Brookside HS student Sabrina Bibb tied for 3rd place.   Read more here: Rotary Four-Way Speech Contest

7th Annual Four-Way Test Speech Contest at North Coast Rotary

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Avon High School
Contestants
NCR and Winners
Avon Lake High School
Brookside High School
School Officials, Contestants and North Coast Rotarians

Is it the truth; is it fair; will it build goodwill and better friendships; will it be beneficial?  These are the goals of Rotary’s Four-Way Test and the challenge for the Avon, Avon Lake, and Brookside high school speech contestants who competed at the North Coast Rotary club meeting on February 5th in Avon Lake.

After much preparation and supported by their teachers, five contestants presented to a group of Rotarians, parents, teachers and guests. The topics of their speeches included, The Lack of Competition; Pay and Workplace Inequality; First Impressions and its Pitfalls; Sexual Harassment and the MeToo movement and Givers, Takers and Matchers, the Value of Labels.

Past Rotary Club President Dr. John Crooks facilitated the Contest for North Coast Rotary, including securing independent judges Esperanza Correa from LCCC and Dr. Robert Young from Baldwin Wallace University.  Contestants were judged on multiple dimensions of delivery, originality and content.

After much deliberation and a referral to Contest Rules in order to break a tie, the winners were announced:

ALHS Junior Marguerite Smith for First Place and  $300

AHS Senior Abigail McNichols for Second Place and $200

BHS Junior Marlee Kovalik for Third Place and $100

ALHS Senior Alex Stamatis for Fourth Place

ALHS Freshman Mallory Roof for Fourth Place

 In March, ALHS Junior Marguerite Smith has the opportunity to compete at the Rotary 6600 District Level in Van Wert, Ohio.