As one of the most well-known and widely used business ethics practices worldwide, Rotary International’s Four-Way Test was the focus of the regional contest on April 6 at the Pottstown Campus of Montgomery County Community College, sponsored and run by the Quakertown Rotary Club.
Among other school districts in the region, a total of 14 Quakertown Community School District (QCSD) students participated in the contest, including members of the high school public speaking class taught by Nicole Moreno. Students participating in the competition applied the principles of Rotary International’s Four-Way Test to a current ethical issue. Those questions are: “Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Is it beneficial to all concerned?
With the goal to inform and persuade their audience based on the guiding principles, student contestants presented their topic of interest. The speeches lasted between five and seven minutes and were scored based on content, organization and delivery. By the end of the contest, the final four winners were selected by the Quakertown Rotary Club.
First place: Brooke Alsante, 12th grade student from Milford Township. Brooke discussed the ratio of men to women in engineering and gender diversity in the workplace. The first-place prize was $150 and a plaque.
Second place: Madilyn Weiss,10th grade student from Quakertown Borough. Madilyn’s speech focused on distracted drivers. The second-place prize was $125 and a plaque.
Third place: Anna Haberle, 10th grade student from Richland Township. Anna’s speech advocated supporting and advancing the mental health of student athletes. The third-place prize was $100 and a plaque.
Fourth place: Richa Chawla, 12th grade student from Milford Township. Richa’s speech was focused on the opioid crisis and fentanyl overdoses. The fourth-place prize was a wawa gift card and a plaque.
Dr. Michael Zackon, QCSD’s Director of Secondary Education, noted how the contest expands public speaking and communication skills for students while providing a platform to build confidence.
“We were highly impressed by our students' ability to express themselves effectively in a challenging environment and format,” Dr. Zackon said. “Their public speaking skills were truly commendable. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Quakertown Rotary Club for their invaluable support in running and leading this exceptional activity.”