Eight clubs entered their winning student for their four local four-way test essay contest in 2024. Read Pat Sutliff’s full report as District Committee Chair.
DISTRICT 5610 FOUR WAY TEST ESSAY CONTEST REPORT
May 2024
There were only eight clubs who entered their winning student from their local Four Way Test Essay Contest in 2024. There were two other clubs who indicated that they could not find a school in their town to work with them. From these entries three judges choose the first, second, and third place winners for the District 5610 Four Way Test Essay Contest. We award $300, a certificate and a Four Way Test coin to the first place winner, $150, a certificate and a Four Way Test coin to the second place winner and $75, a certificate and a Four Way Test coin to the third place winner. In addition the first place winner will be invited to read his/her essay at the District Conference in Rapid City.
The winner this year is Lucy Murray sponsored by Watertown Rotary Club, second place is Alivia Richman sponsored by Rapid City Rushmore Rotary Club and third place is Annika Britton sponsored by Spearfish Rotary Club.
The feedback from this has been very positive. With this program this year we have exposed a little over 1000 sixth graders and their families to our Rotary values. Two clubs sent me copies of great newspaper coverage for their local contest.
We are establishing a committee to work on this contest and one of our goals is to make a video involving teachers and students who have worked on these essays to be distributed throughout the district. Then clubs can share it with teachers who might be interested in having their students involved.
This contest is for sixth graders and we ask them to write a 250 to 500 word essay on
”How can I apply the Four Way Test to my life?” It is amazing what they come up with.
Each club is asked to choose a winner from their area and submit the winner to the
District Contest. I publicize the contest in the newsletter for several months and contact all Rotarians in the district and each club president and secretary in the district at least two times. I have several clubs contact me with questions and a few to say that they could not get anyone in their community to participate. I think this is a great way to get our name and values out into the community.
Yours in Rotary
Pat Sutliff