Two high school students were recently recognized for their winning entries in the Rotary International 4-Way Test Essay Contest. This year’s competition challenged 9th and 10th graders to apply a rigorous moral compass to the dilemmas of modern life.
Taking the top honors are Brendan Oakley (10th Grade), who secured 1st Place, and Cici Burch (9th Grade), who earned 2nd Place. Their work was selected by a panel of Rotarians based on content, creativity, and their ability to take a clear position on complex issues.
At the center of their writing was the Rotary 4-Way Test, which asks of the things we think, say, or do:
Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Brendan and Cici were presented with their awards by local Rotarians Ray Healey and John LoBosco. By using these four pillars to resolve ethical challenges, both students impressively demonstrated their ability to articulate insightful perspectives from the lens of engaged citizenry.