About the 4-Way Test Speech Contest-Clubs Submit to the District by March 31st
 
 
Please note the following:
  • Any Rotary Club in District 6040 may sponsor ONE high school STUDENT.
  • There will be one video eligible for entry from each contestant, due by 12 pm, March 31,2025.  From these entries, 3 will be selected as finalists by a panel of judges.   
  • These three finalists will be required to attend the finals via zoom, on Saturday, May 3,2025, from 10 am to noon.  The finalists will present their speeches online to a panel of 3 new judges. At the conclusion of these finals, the winners will be ranked, and monetary awards announced. The winners will receive $1,000 for first place; $750 for second place; and $500 for third place. The zoom finals are open to anyone wanting to hear the presenters including family, friends, teachers, and especially Rotarians.
  • The finalist will be invited to attend the Rotary District 6040 Conference on 5/30/2025 in Kirksville, Missouri. The winner of the speech contest will have the opportunity to present his/her winning speech and will be awarded their check.  If the student cannot attend the conference, a recording of the speech presentation will be shown and the check will be mailed to the sponsoring club’s president, who will present it at a club meeting.
 
I encourage your club to participate in this contest. To enter, please complete the online entry form and submit the video of your club’s entrant presenting his/her speech to 4waytest6040@gmail.com.  This email will also be your way to contact us with any questions you may have.   The information you will need to complete the online form will include the sponsoring Rotary Club’s contact person, as well as contact information for the student.  A direct link to the submission site is included here:  https://forms.gle/rFYYuteRD5rTZPKT6 . Information and best practices are available on the Rotary District 6040 web page rotary6040.org  under Events, 2025 4 Way Speech Contest.
 
 
 
Eligibility
 
Any high school student enrolled in grades 9 through 12 in a public or private school, home school, or exchange program may participate in the contest. Former winners may compete again, if otherwise eligible.
 
Rules for the Speech Contestants
 
Subject:   Any topic which a contestant feels is timely, interesting, and important may be used for the contest speech as long as it is not profane, obscene unpatriotic or racist. If a contestant or coach has any doubts at all, he/she should clear his/her topic with the Contest Chairperson for the next level where he/she will speak. The decision of the Chairperson is final.  The speech must apply the Rotary 4-Way Test as a standard in connection with other topics or life experiences or as a main topic. It need not include all of the 4 elements of the 4-Way Test, but may center on one or more, demonstrating the impact of the Test upon life or society.  The topic must be specifically subjected to the Rotary 4-Way Test. It must be used throughout the body of the speech and is not to be reserved for the beginning or concluding statements only.
 
Content:   Content must be original, prepared by the contestant, but may include references to research, quotations, statistics and material from other sources, as long as it contains an original or unique approach, not a substantial copy of another's product. Demonstration objects and visual aids may be used, but should not be a major portion of the speech. No slides, videos, or overhead projected images may be used.
 
Delivery:   The speech should not be read, but adequate outline notes may be used. The speech may be delivered partly or entirely from memory.
 
Length:   The speech should be no less than 3 minutes or more than 5 minutes in length. A speech that is delivered in less than 3 minutes or more than 5 is disqualified.
 
 
 
Jennifer Rodgers 4-Way Test Chair
Rotary Club of Liberty
816-651-0062