Rotary Club of Mineral Wells conducted its annual Four-Way Speech Contest on Thursday in Mineral Wells City Council chambers at the City Hall Annex, awarding $1,750 in scholarships.

The winners of the 2019 contest were Mia Elder (center) winner of a $1,000 scholarship; Rachel Carter (left) winner of a $500 scholarship; and Bradley Aaron, winner of a $250 scholarship.

For Rachel, it was her second time to receive a $500 Rotary Four-Way Speech scholarship after also taking second place in last year's speech contest.

Mia qualifies to advance to an upcoming district Four-Way Speech Contest with an opportunity to win more scholarship monies and advance farther.

Libraries in the 21st Century are not just buildings where people read and check out books – though they still serve that purpose.

Today's libraries have transformed themselves into community centers and places of hands-on learning, creativity and social interaction.

That was the message Boyce Ditto Public Library Children's Librarian Jacque Fitzhugh brought to Rotary Club members during Wednesday's meeting at Holiday Hills Country Club. She is pictured above with Club President JJ Dugan.

Knowing college is not for everyone, Mineral Wells ISD has long been committed to making sure students have a chance to learn and are exposed to career opportunities outside classrooms.

MWISD has a large Career and Technical Education department giving students knowledge and hands-on experience in areas like agriculture, horticulture, culinary arts, floral design, automotive skills through its six-bay auto tech department, welding, computer-aided design, woodshop and construction, nursing and health care, veterinarian care and more.

Not only are students able to gain valuable knowledge and actual experience, but in several of these areas they can can get certifications and embark on their careers immediately after graduating high school while choosing how and whether to pursue their education and goals.