The Rotary Club of Colton’s held its weekly Friday meeting on March 17 in Denny’s banquet room where 15 participants from the Colton Joint Unified School District participated in the annual 4-Way Test Speech Competition.
This speech competition has been a part of the Rotary Club International since 1984, inviting high school students nationwide to participate by showing how the Rotary’s “4-Way Test” applies to their daily lives. Students are given the opportunity to choose their own topic and apply Rotary’s 4-Way Test.
The 4-way test had 4 simple questions:
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?
Some of the topics delivered were about mental health, the dangers of corporate data collection, taking a break from social media, the value of offering programs like the Healthcare Education And Leadership (H.E.A.L) pathway to more schools, making amends, and the power of hope.
Colton High Participants include: Rosario Ornelas, Nicole Valdez, Matthew Duran, Melanie Franco, Natalie Diaz, Jennifer Puga, Mauricio Apadaca, Juliette Echauregui, Andrew Diaz, and Mia Zamora.
Bloomington High participants included: Santiago Benitez and Angela Santana.
Slover Mountain High participants included: Joany Moreno-Gomez, Kai Pacheco, and Jasmine Rodriguez.
Andrew Diaz an 11th-grade student from Colton High School was awarded 1st place, receiving $200 and he is advancing to the district competition in April.
Angela Santana from Bloomington High school came in 2nd place, she received $100.
In 3rd place, Matthew Duran, an 11th-grade student also from Colton High School, received $50.
As a bonus, all contestants were awarded a $25 conciliation prize.
Also attending the competition were several parents, teachers, and school board members.