Speech Contest Winners Announced

Pat Northeimer, Chairman of the Coudersport Rotary Club’s 4-Way Test Speech Contest, announced the results of this year’s Rotary 4-Way Test Speech Contest held at the Hotel Crittenden on March 7th.

The purpose of the 4-Way Test Speech Contest is to foster the principles of ethics in every day life as well as in business, as reflected by the Club’s 4-Way Test. The 4-Way Test has been translated into more than a hundred languages and published in thousands of ways. It asks the following four questions:

Of the things we think, say or do:
1. Is it 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?

This year’s winner was Sarah Wright whom spoke about the Sponsorship of Children Living in 3rd World Countries. Sarah is a home-schooled student currently in her senior year who hopes to get accepted to the Grove City College in hopes of majoring in Psychology. She is the daughter of Tim and Bonnie Wright.

Runner up was Peter Wright, also a home-schooled student in his sophomore year. Peter spoke about Family-Friendly Television Programming. Peter enjoys karate and is the son of Tim and Bonnie Wright.

Joel Pepper took third place with his speech on Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Joel is a freshman at the Coudersport Junior-Senior High School and a participant in the Enrichment Program under the guidance of Theresa Daniels. Joel was one of the youngest students to ever compete in the Club’s speech contest and is the son of Mike and Mary Pepper.

All three students were also participants in the Coudersport High School musical held earlier this month.

Rotary Chairman, Pat Northeimer, extended special thanks to volunteer judges, Linda Castano, Georgianna Leete, Eunice Hults and alternate judge, Myra Neefe, together with volunteer timekeepers Mark & Gloria Richardson. “We are so fortunate to have such strong support for our youth leadership initiatives and it’s the community volunteers that keep the speech contest strong!” according to Northeimer.

Some of the specific goals of the Rotary Speech Contest include; to acquaint a large number of youth with Rotary, and specifically, the tenets of the 4 -Way Test, to demonstrate and enhance Rotarians’ commitment to youth, and to recognize, encourage and reward hard work and accomplishment in our youth.

Anyone interest in becoming more active in the Coudersport Rotary Club youth leadership programs should contact Club President, Karen Cahilly at (814) 203-3933.