Derek Leibensperger, funeral director at Leibensperger Funeral Home and member of the Rotary Club of Hamburg, greeted attendees as they entered the Hamburg Area High School for the first annual Four-Way Test Speech Contest sponsored by the Rotary Club of Hamburg on Thursday, March 12.
Leibenspberger comes from a family of Rotarians and said that, “for me, it’s a service organization and that’s what I care about. Being a part of the community.”
Christine Roth, a retired HASD teacher and member of the Rotary Club, coordinated the event. She explained her enthusiasm for encouraging the district to hold the contest.
“The model for Rotary is service above self. I’m a retired teacher. This is a service I can do because of my years of teaching English. I always loved working with teenagers,” she said.
Roth explained that part of the purpose of the competition is to promote critical thinking and ethical decision making in the students, with whom she spent time critiquing and refining their speeches. The contest is also meant to enhance public speaking and leadership skills in teenagers, in an attempt to inspire others.
Six ninth and tenth grade HAHS students, Natalie Clark, Jose Galarza, Thomas Kissinger, Grace Kutz, Eliza Moseman and Yelitza Pagan, were asked to address an ethical problem in a persuasive speech between five and seven minutes long. Anonymous judges scored the contestants in three categories which were content, organization, and delivery.
The topics chosen had to pass the Rotary Club’s “Four-Way Test” of things we think say, or do: Is it the truth? Is it fair for all concerned? Will it build good will and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
The problems discussed in the students’ speeches included equal treatment for women, the importance of musical education in schools and of higher education, freeing people of prejudice, the asset of bilingualism, and the prevention of sexual abuse. Prior to the speeches, contestant Yelitza Pagan discussed her reasons to speak about bilingualism.
“It was a personal topic. It needed to be said. I put a lot of hours into this,” she said.
The first prize winner of the evening was Grace Kutz, while Eliza Moseman and Jose Galarza took second and third place. All participants were given certificates from the Rotary Club which were presented by HASD Superintendent and Rotarian, Steve Keifer. The top three prize winners received $100, $50, and $25 respectively.
The Four-Way Test Speech Contest winner, Grace Kutz, said that she was “honored to be the first place winner and to share something I’m passionate about with the community.”
Kutz’s winning persuasive speech was on the prevention of sexual abuse. She will progress to the regional competition at Lehigh Carbon Community College which will include contestants from thirteen Rotary Clubs ranging from Quakertown to Slatington.
Another event sponsored by the Rotary Club of Hamburg is a pancake breakfast at the Hamburg Area Middle School on Saturday, May 5, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Tickets are available at the door for a cost. Quest Diagnostics will have health scans available at the breakfast. For more information about the Rotary Club of Hamburg, contact president, Titus Miller, at 610-562-4447.
