From left: Principal Mark Walter, Grace Lamparyk, Helen Roche, Alex Hodson, Lydia Kress, and teacher Amy Garritano.

Four Lakewood High juniors were winners in the 77th annual Rotary Club of Lakewood and Rocky River Speech Contest sponsored by Beck Center for the Arts. In the final round that took place March 28, Alex Hodson placed first and earned $750. Rounding out the top four places following Alex were Grace Lamparyk ($500), Helen Roche ($300), and Lydia Kress ($250).

Contest participants were students from the five Lakewood and Rocky River high schools – Lakewood, Lutheran West, Magnificat, Rocky River, and St. Edward. Contestants were asked to apply the principles of Rotary International’s Four Way Test to a current ethical issue. Students are challenged to identify a topic they feel passionate about and to adopt a point of view from which they will seek to persuade others.

The Four Way Test includes the questions:
Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

As the winner, Alex will represent the Rotary Club of Lakewood and Rocky River at the Rotary District 6630 Speech Finals at Kent Roosevelt High School on April 9.

All award winners for the speech, music and visual arts contest will be honored for their work and awarded their prize money the Awards Reception on April 11 at Beck Center.