Santa Paula Rotary: 4-Way Test essay contest open to local students!

Santa Paula area students will have a chance to win cash prizes with the Rotary Club District 5240 “4-Way Test” Essay Competition.

The local competition, sponsored by the Santa Paula Rotary Club, will offer prizes on the local level as well as the chance to advance to the district level for more cash rewards for those students who offer their thoughts on the meaning of Rotary’s famous 4-Way Test.

The 4-Way Test is the Rotarian’s way of judging their thoughts, words and actions by determining: 1. Is it the truth? 2. Is it fair to all concerned? 3. Will it build good will and better friendships? And 4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

These tenants have guided Rotary, an international organization founded in 1905 in Chicago by Paul Harris and friends, since 1942. The test was developed by Rotarian and entrepreneur Herbert J. Taylor during the Great Depression as a set of guidelines for restoring faltering businesses and was adopted as the standard of ethics by Rotary in 1942.

According to Santa Paula Rotary President Paul Skeels, the 4-Way Test, “Is still seen as a standard for ethics in business management,” as well as personal relationships.

“Interpretation of the test is a wonderful subject for a student essay and Santa Paula Rotary is really looking forward to entries from our local students, who time and again have demonstrated how talented they are on many, many levels.”

The goal of the competition noted Skeels, is “To encourage students to think about the meaning of The 4-Way Test. This can be done by writing their thoughts in an essay, which expresses clearly and creatively how the principles of the test impact their daily lives.”

Essays for grades 1^st through 6^th should be at least 150 words; 200 words for 7^th and 8^th grades; and 250 words for grades high school grades 9 through 12.

All grade school, middle school and high school students are eligible who are enrolled in public, private and home schools.

District Awards given will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place at each level: grade school, middle school and high school for a total of nine awards.

First Place will be $250, Second Place $175 and Third Place $75.

Those winners selected by the Santa Paula Rotary Club will be forwarded to the District for the second round of judging.

Entry deadline is March 18.

Entries can be mailed to Santa Paula Rotary, PO Box 809, Santa Paula, CA 93061 or sent via email to rotary4waytest@gmail.com

If submitted electronically, copy and paste the essay to the body of the email.

Entries must include the student’s name, address, phone number, school and grade.

Questions? Email rotary4waytest@gmail.com or mail to Santa Paula Rotary, PO Box 809, Santa Paula, CA 93061