DISTRICT 5580 FOUR WAY TEST ESSAY CONTEST

FOUR WAY TEST ESSAY

ROTARY 4-WAY TEST ESSAY CONTEST

2026-2027 CONTEST

For Students and Counselors

Students in their final two years of high school are invited to submit a 500 to 1,000 word essay applying Rotary's Four-Way Test to a topic of their choice. Complete entries are due through the District 5580 Essay Contest portal by November 30, 2026.

Submit essays and direct contest inquiries: https://web-production-9a2ad.up.railway.app

Each entry must include the student's essay and the completed Student Information Form. Late entries, paper copies and incomplete submissions will not be accepted.

The Four-Way Test asks:

  • Is it the truth?
  • Is it fair to all concerned?
  • Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
  • Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

District awards: 1st place, $1,500; 2nd place, $1,000; 3rd place, $500; and 4th-7th place, $250 each. Local Rotary clubs may also offer local prizes.

Use the Student Guidelines and Student Information Form in the 2026-2027 Materials list on the left side of this page. A prior video message remains available as a background resource: view the background video. The current packet documents and District portal are the primary contest resources.

AI Use, Original Work and Disqualification Policy:

Students may use AI tools for brainstorming, research assistance, organization, grammar, spelling, punctuation, clarity edits, citation formatting and logic checks. AI may not write the essay, replace the student's ideas or ethical reasoning, invent personal experiences, opinions or reflections, or answer the prompt in place of the student's own values and application of the Four-Way Test. Final ideas, analysis, conclusions and content must be the student's original work. Any AI assistance must be disclosed briefly on the Student Information Form. Plagiarism, undisclosed AI-generated content, or essays that do not reflect the student's own work may be disqualified, and any announced prize placement or prize money may be forfeited.

Contest Schedule

  • November 30, 2026: Entries due through the District portal.
  • December 1-15, 2026: Club-level judging.
  • December 16-31, 2026: District-level judging.
  • Early January 2027: Club-level and District-level winners announced.

For Rotary Clubs

Rotary clubs should prioritize participant recruitment by sharing the student materials with counselors and interested students as early as possible. Club coordinators should use the Club Guidelines, Sample Press Release and Sample Poster in the Materials list for local outreach.

Club-level judging will take place December 1-15, 2026. District-level judging will take place December 16-31, 2026. The portal is the central location for submissions, judging workflow and contest inquiries.

Please encourage local high schools to promote this opportunity and encourage area high school students to participate. We look forward to seeing essays from students across District 5580.