Students participating in the Batavia Rotary 2016 Four-Way Test Speech Contest were (from left): Andrea Johnson, Alyson Hazelbaker, and Zoe Beebe of Clermont Northeastern High School; Jill Kahrs, Ryan Nickolette, and Mary Caudill of Batavia High School. Caudill is also a member of Interact, the high school Rotary Club at Batavia.
The Rotary Club of Batavia, Ohio hosted its annual Four-Way Test Speech Contest on March 8. Students from Batavia and Clermont Northeastern High Schools participated in this event that gives young adults an opportunity to develop public speaking skills while researching a subject that is of personal interest to them.

All speeches are analyzed by the Rotary Four-Way Test, which is a world-wide moral code used by Rotarians that helps build personal and business relationships. The “test” asks four questions: 1) Is it (the topic) the truth? 2) Is it fair to all concerned? 3) Will it build goodwill and better friendships? 4) Will it be beneficial to all concerned? These questions are used by Rotarians to define what charities and businesses they support; students participating in the speech contest used these questions to test their opinions toward the topics they chose.

“Rotary adopted the Four-Way Test in the early 1940s, and it has been translated into more than 100 languages” said Michael Chapman, Past Batavia Club President, current Assistant District Governor, and speech contest coordinator. “It’s very similar to the Golden Rule. If we think like that, we do better business.”

Each student was given four to six minutes to present a topic in front of the Batavia Rotary Club members, who were the judges for the event. Students were judged on weighing their topic against the Four-Way Test, in addition to poise, enunciation, non-verbal communication/body language, use of voice, and ability to impress the audience.

Ryan Nickolette of Batavia High School (BHS) chose childhood poverty has his speech topic. “When stories of poverty are brought up, no one really listens,” said Nickolette. His solution was to offer food and clothing pantries within school districts, so students can get what they need, when they need it. He also suggested offering volunteer opportunities so the pantries could be operated by the high school students in each district.

The Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign was the speech topic for Jill Kahrs. Kahrs is a BHS student and explained the Salvation Army helps feed the hungry, keep people warm, and supports shelters for women and children. Kahrs has been a Red Kettle volunteer for three years and met a very good friend while volunteering.

Andrea Johnson from Clermont Northeastern High School (CNE) presented information on the economic needs of students who dream of going to college. She would like to see all students have the opportunity to attend post-secondary classes and see more scholarships available to all students.

Divorce and its effect on her family was the speech subject for Alyson Hazelbaker of CNE.

“I was just five years old when my parents divorced,” said Hazelbaker. “The Four-Way Test helped me examine my feelings about the situation, and see how this was the best situation for everyone.”

Mary Caudill discussed fundraising and how difficult it is. Caudill is a member of Business Professionals of America at BHS, and fundraising assists their members to attend competitions at the local, state and national levels. It presents challenges that can’t always be avoided, yet Caudill feels it is a great idea to constantly raise funds so every student in the club has the opportunity to attend these important competitions.

“Literacy in America” is something Zoe Beebe feels strongly about. “Literacy is one of the most important skills we can have,” said Beebe. She feels more emphasis should be given to reading in school and opportunities offered within the community.

Participant certificates and $50 each were given to Karhs and Johnson.

Second Place certificates and $100 each were presented to Nickolette and Hazelbaker.

Caudill and Beebe received First Place certificates and will receive $250 each when they present their speeches at the Rotary District 6670 Contest on April 10 at Wright State University. The district First Place winner will receive $400 and will be expected to attend the District 6670 Conference April 30 at the Cincinnati Marriott Northeast.

“Special thanks to teachers Bernadette Wayne of Clermont Northeastern and Adam Paine from Batavia,” said Chapman. “Their assistance in helping the students prepare for this event is appreciated by our entire Rotary Club.”

The Batavia Rotary Club meets each Tuesday at 7 a.m. at the Hawk Building next to the Clermont County Airport. For information about the Four-Way Speech Contest or Batavia Rotary in general, visit www.batavia-rotary.org.