The Scoop - March 24, 2017
Posted by Heather Rutz on Apr 01, 2017
Essay and speech contest winners wowed the club with their words.
Essay and speech winners told Lima Rotary Club Monday about how the 4-Way Test helped them in difficult situations.
Top-placing students from this year’s speech and essay contests gave their speeches and read their essays. The students from Lima City Schools and Shawnee Schools recalled difficult situations, such as losing loved ones, forgiving people who had hurt them, and deciding to tell the truth about other classmates misbehaving.
For the 4-Way Speech Contest, first-place winner Alexandria Stafford, a Shawnee High School freshman, and Elisa Ehrnsberger, a Lima Senior High School senior, both gave their speeches.
For the 4-Way Essa Contest, Meghan Nuckles, who won first place for Lima City Schools, and Andreas Scutt, who won first place for Shawnee Schools, both read their essays. Andreas is the son and grandson of Rotarians Elizabeth Brown and Rita Brown.
Many of the students spoke about the rarity of honesty, and the difficulty of telling the truth.
Stafford, who lost a loved one when the little girl died at age 3, spoke at length about grief and honoring someone’s memory. “Is it beneficial for all concerned?” Stafford asked. “I’m not sure it’s beneficial, but there are many opportunities for growth.”
Winners will go on to compete at the district level.
Speech Contest organizer Jill Ackerman and Essay Contest organizer Esther Baldridge both thanked the many Rotarians who helped plan and judge the events.
In other Rotary business Monday:
President Dave Frost reminded the club about the upcoming Blood Clinic May 6 and reminded club members that Lima Memorial technicians only would be working this time. To volunteer, contact Frost or Tracie Sanchez.
The club’s annual meeting will take place April 24. Sanchez spoke about preparing for that day and gave a ballot to members asking about preferences related to funding projects through club commitments and the foundation.
