Posted by Janelle Kavenaugh on May 01, 2018
The Four-Way Test Speech Contest
Going into the Final Lap
 
The last of three Regional Four-Way Test Speech Contests was held Saturday, April 28, in Bedford.  And now seven contestants will advance to the final contest at the District Celebration at 3 PM on Saturday, May 19, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at the DFW Airport.
But how did we get to this point?
 
The first step is at each Rotary Club’s Four-Way Test Speech Contest from which one winner advances to one of the three Regional Contests.  The topic of each student’s talk is “What the Four-Way Test Means to Me.”
 
This year half the Clubs in the District participated.  Topics range from issues current in the news to the benefit of breakfast and getting enough rest.  The students are well informed and research their topics very well.
 
The Three Regional Four-Way Test Speech Contests
 
The Regional Contests were held on a Saturday in April in locations deemed most convenient to all Clubs participating.  The first was held April 7 in Weatherford.  Marnita Langford made all the arrangements with the assistance of Joe Wilkinson, Kathy Meyer and Tim Hasty, all from the Weatherford Rotary Club. 
 
The second Regional Contest was held in Lewisville on April 21 with the planning so aptly handled by Frank Hebb, assisted by Bob Troyer, Lewisville Rotarians.
 
The third and last Regional Contest was held in Bedford on April 28.  Joel Hueske from the Mid-Cities Rotary Club and Georgia Kidwell of the HEB Rotary Club did excellent planning for that contest.  Also of key importance were PDG Paul Lucas, Robert Sullivan, Walter Ott and Billie Lynn.
 
A final very important mention must be the judges.  At all contests judges were selected from the community and other Rotary Clubs.  In the interest of objectivity, judges were not allowed if they belonged to a Club with a participating student.  What a tough job they had!
 
The District Four-Way Test Speech Contest
 
Finally, seven top winners of the three Regional Contests will advance to the District Contest.  These seven along with the Clubs that sponsored them are:
               
                Gracie Walker – Cleburne Rotary Club
                Brannen Heltzel – Weatherford Rotary Club
                Aaron Szczesny – Denton Noon Rotary Club
                Jonathan Forseth – Eagle Mountain/Saginaw Rotary Club
                Natalie Pixler – Mansfield Sunrise Rotary Club
                Sammy Guadarrama -  Abilene Rotary Club
                Colin Williams – Mid-Cities Rotary Club
 
All students who participated in the Regional Contests were excellent speakers.  Those mentioned above are the Crème de la Crème, the best of the best.
 
One Last Chance to See These Seven Students in Action
 
All the finalists will speak at the District Conference at 3 PM on Saturday, May 19, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at the DFW Airport.  Please make plans, ROTARIANS as well as FAMILIES and SUPPORTERS of the Four-Way Test Speech contestants. 
 
One last thing, when you approach the gates of the DFW Airport, go through one where you can get a ticket, NOT with a Toll Tag identification.  You can have the ticket stamped by the concierge at the Hotel.  Going through a Toll Tag lane will not give you the necessary ticket to help you avoid paying.
 
SEE YOU ON MAY 19!!!