NEWS RELEASE
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
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Isabella Bosch, a Grade 12 Student at St. Ignatius High School was awarded a $1,250 USD top prize in the Rotary 4 Way Test Essay Contest. According to Rotary District 5580 Youth Services Chair Rozanne Casey, "A panel of four judges from throughout our district read and ranked each of the 14 essays submitted by clubs across the district. Each essay was reviewed for correlation to the 4 Way Test, organization of thoughts, language usage, grammar and spelling.” In addition to the top District award, Bosch's essay on consumerism had won a local prize in December of $500 CDN in a competition involving seven submissions from Grade 11 and 12 students in Thunder Bay and Nipigon-Red Rock.
Bosch’s essay which was jointly submitted by Fort William Rotary, Lakehead Rotary, Nipigon Rotary, Port Arthur Rotary, and Thunder Bay Rotaract, received a total score of 91, out of a possible 100 points from the judges panel.
Past District Governor Roly Turner, who presented the cheque on behalf of District Governor Rick Bricker, complimented Bosch on her essay stating, “you have made us consider the much broader implications of shopping locally. The ramifications of choosing to stay closer to home with your dollars is well documented in your essay and a good reminder for all of us.”
Rotary Clubs around the world offer this Essay Contest as an incentive to young people to develop their skills of self-expression and as evidence of a sincere interest in the ideals of our youth. All students in their final two years of high school are eligible to participate.
The essay can deal with any topic of the student’s choosing, but it must apply the principles of The Rotary 4-Way Test:
• Is it the TRUTH?
• Is it FAIR to all concerned?
• Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
• Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
The Rotary 4-Way Test was first conceived in 1932 at the height of the Great Depression by a Chicago businessman, faced with the challenge of saving a major company from bankruptcy. Looking for a way to save the company, he sought a short yardstick of ethics that could be used. Company personnel were asked to learn the test and to observe it as a guide to every aspect of business. As a result, a climate of trust and goodwill gradually developed among dealers, customers and employees, and the 4-Way Test was credited with returning the company to a thriving status.
The 4-Way Test has inspired safe driving programs, crime and drug reduction activities, and has been the subject of countless secondary school essays. The message has appeared on roadside billboards, bronze plaques and has been translated into more than 100 languages.
As mentioned, Bosch's essay was selected first amongst 14 essays from Rotary 5580 District that includes North Dakota, Northern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin plus four Rotary clubs in Ontario, based in and around Thunder Bay.
To view the winning essay, please visit https://rotary5580.org/stories/four-way-test-essay-contest-winner-announced/ and for questions, please contact Rotary District 5580 Youth Services Chair Rozanne Casey at rozannecasey@ymail.com.
