The Loop Newspaper - Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide

For the second year in a row, the Rotary Club of Tehachapi sponsored its essay contest on the Rotary 4-Way Test. The 4-Way Test asks for one to ponder before thinking, saying, or doing something: Is it the Truth? Is it Fair to All Concerned? Will it Build Goodwill and Better Friendships? Is it Beneficial to All Concerned? The students were asked to apply the 4-Way Test to something current or in their past where they had a decision to make.

Forty-seven essays were collected from these Tehachapi schools: Heritage Oak, Tehachapi High School, Jacobsen Middle School, Valley Oaks, Cummings Valley Elementary, and Mojave River. The winning high school essay earned $200, winning middle school and elementary school essays each earned $100. Second place in all three categories earned $50 each, and the third place essays each earned their composers $25 dollars each.

This year's top three essays in all three categories were written by:

Elementary School

First place: Serena Thornburg, Cummings Valley

Second place: Kennedy James, Valley Oaks

Middle School

First place: Hannah Sweet, Heritage Oak

Second place: Benjamin Langshaw, Heritage Oak

Third place: McKay Pack, Valley Oaks

High School

First place: Lucy Wilson, Heritage Oak

Second place: Isabella Dohnke, Valley Oaks

Third place: Chole Crites, Tehachapi High

All three first place essays have been sent to our Rotary District 5240 where they will compete with other winnings essays from participating clubs in Kern, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties. Last year two of our three winning writers place second in the District contest.

All forty-seven authors can be congratulated for a job well done!

The Rotary Club of Tehachapi is a volunteer service organization with the motto, "Service Above Self." The club meets on Thursdays at noon. For more information about Rotary Club, you can visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RotaryClubofTehachapi/ or contact club President Judy Trujillo, (661) 699-5851.