In the Spring,  participating high school students from Brookside High School and Avon and Avon Lake High Schools  compete in a Speech Contest. Sponsored by the North Coast Rotary Club and Foundation, the Contest gives students an opportunity to present a logical, clear and concise theme from opening to conclusion and demonstrate their public speaking skills while highlighting Rotary’s values.

Students develop their own material applying the Rotary Four-Way Test to an important issue in their everyday relationships or in society. Rotarians have long promoted high ethical standards, and the “4-Way Test” asks that of the things we think, say and do:
1)  Is it the Truth?
2) Is it Fair to all concerned?
3) Will it build Goodwill and better Friendships and?
4) Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?

North Coast Rotary began working with local schools to offer the Speech Contest in 2013, and has awarded students every year since.

Rotarian Ben Hodge has been coordinating the Speech Contest for North Coast Rotary.  He ensures that judges are impartial and that they don’t know the contestants or the schools they represent until the contest is concluded.  While the judges are tabulating their scores, each student takes the podium again to introduce themselves to the twenty-some Rotarians and guests present.  In addition to the experience of presenting to a diverse audience, awardees receive cash prizes from North Coast Rotary Foundation. 

The winner has an opportunity to continue in a District-wide competition to be held in April/May.