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.
Contestants are asked to develop a 5-minute oratory based around Rotary Club's Four-Way Test, a standard of morals and ethics Rotarians carry with them in all aspects of their professional and personal lives.
Written in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor, the Rotary Four-Way Test principles are:
Of the things we think, say and do:
First, is it the truth?
Second, is it fair to all concerned?
Third, will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Fourth, will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Four-Way Speech contestants are judged based on their use of the Rotary Four-Way Test in their speech, their presentation and following other contest guidelines.
Club Social Services Chair Tanya Lukas, along with Rotarian Keri Walden, organized this year's contest. Lukas, along with Kimberly Acheson Hoffman and David May, served as judges. The timekeeper was Janette Green.
Thank you contestants for your participation and Rotary Club of Mineral Wells wishes you the best as you go forward in your education and lives and hope you will always apply the Four-Way Test principles in everything you do.