We are excited to announce the Rotary 2024-25 annual District 5610 Four Way Test Essay Contest. This contest is a great way to spread our Rotary ideals within our communities. The contest involves 6th graders who are asked to write a 200 to 500 word essay on "How can I apply the Rotary Four-Way Test to my life?" You will be amazed and excited at the perspective 6th graders have on our Four-Way Test.
This year we will be getting every club a flash drive with a video about the Four Way Test with teachers, students and Rotarians talking about it and sharing some samples of previous essays. This will be a great thing to share with potential teachers.
It's time to get 6th Graders interested in entering the 4-Way Test Essay Contest! Pat Sutliff, Rotarian from Rapid City Rushmore, offers background and help for all clubs interested. 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 is invited to share his/her essay at the District Conference.
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.
We are hoping that many of the District 5610 clubs will participate in this terrific project where we teach young people in our communities about what Rotary stands for and help them with their writing skills. For questions or more information contact Pat Sutliff <pmsutliff@gmail.com> or 605-593-2896.