The students who participated in this year’s Four-Way Test Speech Contest are pictured with event chair Mary Ellen Samatulski and President Silvia Rodriguez after receiving wards for their participation. Pictured from L-R are Samatulski, Nardin Sayoufi, Lia Bocchino, Dan Torres and Emanuel Louime.
Shelton High School sophomore Emanuel Louime was the winner of the 2018 Four-Way Speech contest at the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club. The contest is an annual event at the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club and throughout District 7980 in which students compete with speeches they create that promote the values of the 4 Way Test.
The test, which has been translated into more than 100 languages, asks the following questions:
Of the things we think, say or do
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Louime was competing in the contest for the second straight year and he spoke about the desensitization to tragedies such as the recent Parkland shootings. As with all the speakers, he saw the connection to the Four Way Test as a guide to life in our country and around the world.
Daniel Torres told his own moving story and the value of perseverance and showed how that characteristic is reflected in the Four-Way Test. Nardin Sayoufi and Lia Bocchino like many students across the whole country also framed the conversation about the tragedy at Parkland and other senseless shootings to the Four Way Test. Rotarians were amazed by the poise and talent shown by all four speakers who attend Shelton High School. Each was presented with an award for their outstanding efforts.