January 21, 2025                            
 
Dear Club President,
One of District 6040’s favorite events of the spring is the 4-Way Test Speech Contest. This is a unique way for Rotary Clubs to connect with high school students in their area and give them the opportunity to apply the 4-Way Test to their life. Each year these presentations encourage me and solidify my hope for future generations.   

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 3rd, 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 May 31, 2025 in Kirksville.  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 upload the video of your club’s entrant presenting his/her speech to the direct link to the submission site:  https://forms.gle/X13aaKfTtvmS3CLL6 . If you have any questions you may contact us at 4waytest6040@gmail.com or my direct email jrodgers@firststepsmo.com.  The information you will need to complete the online form will include a person from the sponsoring Rotary Club as well as contact information for the student. Information and best practices are available on the Rotary District 6040 web page rotary6040.org  under Events, 2025 4- Way Speech Contest.
 
Sincerely,
Jennifer Rodgers