Local Students Can Practice Public Speaking & Earn Money at the 4-Way Test Speech Contest
Archived event from April 2025
Are you a Siuslaw or Mapleton-area high school student (public, private, or home-schooled) in grades 9-
12 who cares about ethical standards and behavior in today’s world? If you are, the Rotary Club of
Florence invites you to share a subject you care about by participating in the 2025 Rotary International
4-Way Test Speech Contest.
The contest will be held in-person at the Florence Events Center, 715 Quince Street, at 5:00 p.m. on
Thursday, April 3, 2025. The top three finalists at the contest will present their speeches to a meeting of
the Florence Rotary Club on Tuesday, April 15 at noon. First prize for the local contest is $750, second
prize is $500, and third prize is $250.
The three finalists from this event will also compete with contestants from other coastal Rotary clubs
with the first place finisher at the second round competing in a “Speak Off” at the Rotary District 5110
Conference on Saturday, May 17 in Grants Pass. Additional cash prizes will be awarded at the District
level.
All participants will be required to take the Rotary 4-Way Test and apply it to real life throughout their
speeches. The 4-Way Test has four principles:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIP?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
The choices for topics are endless…would the Super Bowl pass the 4-Way Test? What about your
homework assignments? How about TikTok?
All speeches must be original and your own, and may not be less than 5 minutes or more than 7
minutes. Speeches should also be memorized, although speakers can refer to notes.
For information on participating, including an application and guidelines, visit the.florencerotary.org to
download the application packet. Interested competitors need to submit their applications by noon on
April 3, 2025 to take part in the contest.
Caption: A Mapleton High School Student Competes in a Previous Year’s 4-Way Test Speech Contest
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