Area high school seniors recently participated in the second annual St. Lawrence County Rotary Clubs Four-Way Test Essay Contest.
The Rotary Clubs of Canton, Massena and Potsdam offered the essay contest as an incentive to young people to develop their self-expression skills and as evidence of a sincere interest in the ideals of our youth.
Joie-Lynn Jabaut of Massena High School took the $1,000 first-place award with her essay on radiology. Midwife Sunday Wellness and Birth Center in Potsdam sponsored the award with a $1,000 donation
Zadok Roiger of Canton High School won the second-place award of $500 with his essay on “Volunteering.”
Rory Lawrence of Massena High School got the $500 third-place award with his essay “Social media is a negative platform that harms and divides teenagers because of the way that it is used.”
Allison Bell of Lisbon High School received the $250 honorable mention with her essay on “Family and Community.”
The Rotary Clubs of Massena and Potsdam each contributed $500 for the second and third prizes. Canton Rotary contributed $250 for the honorable mention.
The essay focused on any topic of the student’s choosing, but had to apply the principles of the Rotary Four-Way Test:
Of the things we think, say or do:
· 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 Four-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 the company’s dealers, customers and employees, and the Four-Way Test was credited with returning the company to a thriving status.
Eleven years later, The Four-Way Test was adopted as one of Rotary’s guiding principles.
The Four-Way Test is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian ethical guide for Rotarians to use for their personal and professional relationships. The test has been translated into more than 100 languages, and Rotarians recite it at club meetings.
The Four-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 also appeared on roadside billboards, bronze plaques.
Find out more about Rotary Clubs in St. Lawrence County at facebook.com/rotary.ncny.
Left to right: honorable mention winner Allison Bell, first-place winner Joie-Lynn Jabaut and Potsdam Rotary President Sunday Smith. (Not present for photo: second-place winner Zadok Roiger and third-place winner Rory Lawrence.)