From left to right: Darla Falcon & Carolyn Davis (4Way Test Committee), First place Evan Mattson & Addison Jones with teacher Mrs. Kahler,; Second Place Sophia Whitten/Mrs. Cairy and Otto Pigorsh/Mr. Moleski; Donna Clark (committee) and Third Place Caleb Christie and Nolan Papke, Mr. Moleski and Mrs. Gallagher.

By Judy Reed

The Cedar Springs Rotary handed out awards to students on March 7 in their annual Rotary 4-way test essay contest. They invited fifth grade students from Cedar View and Creative Technologies Academy to participate. All essays were written in 200 words or less. Teachers chose the 2 best essays from their class and submitted them to the committee, which included Darla Falcon, Carolyn Davis, Donana Clark and Bea Hesley.    

Clark and Rotary president Tom Noreen spoke with each of the classes ahead of time, and gave them some background on Rotary. “Tom and I visited all of the 5^th grade classes and shared what the 4Way test is, how it started and tried to inspire students with ideas of how to write a story that would be compelling and touch our hearts—something real, something that impacted them that they could relay with feeling,” explained Clark.

The students were then on their own to write the essays. And the students who won had a good grasp of what the committee was looking for. Out of 12 essays, they chose six—two for each place. 

“The essays were phenomenal this year! We had so much trouble narrowing it down to just one 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place winner that we decided not to,” said Clark. “We were a bit extravagant and allowed ourselves to choose two for each place!”

The first place winners were Evan Mattson and Addison Jones, both of Mrs. Kahler’s class. They each won $35 and a gold medallion of 4Way test.

Second place winners were Otto Pigorsh of Mr. Moleski’s class, and Sophia Whitten, of Mrs. Cairy’s class. They each won $20 and a gold medallion.

Third place winners were Nolan Papke of Mrs. Gallagher’s class, and Caleb Christie, of Mr. Moleski’s class. They each won $10 and a gold medallion.

The 4-Way Test was adopted by Rotary in 1943 and is a code of ethics each Rotarian aspires to live by both in their business and personal lives. It says: “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 is the 10th year that the Rotary has partnered with local schools on this project.

Photo cutline: Award winners, teachers and Rotary representatives for the Rotary 4-way test. Back: (L to R) CTA teacher Aaron Kenemer, Donna Clark, Amanda Gerhardt, Carolyn Davis, and Julie Wheeler. Front row (L to R): Ashley Shelagowski, David Whitten, Mrs. Luttrell, Katelyn Hoogerheide, Alyssa Washington, and Nicholas Cummings.

The Cedar Springs Rotary recently handed out the awards for their annual 4-way test contest March 13. They had five fifth grade classes this year, including Creative Technology Academy, celebrating Rotary’s Annual 4 Way Test Essay Contest.  All essays were written at school in 200 words or less.  Teachers chose the 2 best essays from their class and submitted them to the committee, which included Julie Wheeler, Carolyn Davis and Donna Clark.

“We had nine diverse and interesting essays to read, evaluate and choose from,” explained Clark. “We looked at grammar, writing mechanics, spelling, presentation and the story line. We looked for a clear outcome, such as the lesson learned or character revealed.”

The 4 Way Test was adopted by Rotary in 1943 and has been translated into more than 100 languages and published in thousands of ways. The message should be known and followed by all Rotarians.  “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?”

“We as Rotarians are aware of the example we set as individuals and as a Club in our community,” noted Rotary president Amanda Gerhardt.  As community leaders and partners, we are mindful of what we think, say and do.”

Coming in first this year was Katelyn Hoogerheide, of Mr. Moleski’s class. “Our committee felt that she understands what integrity is, wrote very clearly, gave a great definition, a great example and strives to be a person of integrity herself,” noted Clark. Katelyn was given her award and $40.

Two tied for 2nd place: David Whitten, of Mrs. Luttrell’s class, and Nicholas Cummings of Ms. Cairy’s class. “Their essays were similar in that they each wrote about a person that they looked up to as setting a great example,” said Clark. Both were given an award and $20.

Two also tied for 3rd d place: Alyssa Washington, of Mr. Moleski’s class, and Ashley Shelagowski, of Mr. Aaron Kenemer’s class. “We chose them for the similar qualities of their stories,” noted Clark. “Each girl wrote her story around a significant family member – her special grandfather.” Both were given an award and $10.