April 9, 2025 • 26 mins
"Take a chance on yourself and go for it!" These powerful words from past winner Jason Davalos capture the transformative spirit of Rotary District 5330's Four-Way Test Speech Contest. This youth-focused program has become a launching pad for confident communicators and ethical leaders across our communities.
The contest invites high school students to craft speeches incorporating Rotary's Four-Way Test principles: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? What begins at the club level with pizza lunches and coaching sessions culminates in district competitions where young speakers showcase their remarkable talents while competing for cash prizes.
District Chair Mary Scott reveals the program's comprehensive support structure, including partnerships with Toastmasters and specialized coaching materials like the "Speech Sandwich" framework. Past winners Jason and Peyton share compelling testimony about how the experience shaped their futures—Jason now applying his communication skills with vulnerable patients as a nursing student, and Peyton pursuing journalism with an ethical foundation rooted in Four-Way Test principles.
"It doesn't define you as a speaker," Peyton reminds future participants about competition rankings, emphasizing that the true value lies in finding your voice and connecting with an audience. Beyond public speaking skills, the program provides networking opportunities, potential scholarship connections, and a pathway to continued Rotary involvement.
Ready to get involved? Contact your local Rotary club or reach out directly to Mary at maryqinpd@gmail.com. Don't miss the upcoming showcase featuring this year's winners at Benedict Castle on April 6th—tickets available at district5330.org. Subscribe and share the Community Heroes of Hope podcast to spread the word about this and other impactful Rotary programs!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello and welcome to the Community.
Heroes of Hope, a podcast wherewe shine a light on the
remarkable individuals andprojects in Rotary District 5330
that bring hope and change toour local and global communities
.
I am Judy Zelfikar, yourco-host and the current District
Governor of Rotary District5330.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
And I'm Niren McLean, the Rotary District
Governor-Elect, and I'm NirenMcLean, the Rotary District
Governor-Elect.
Together, we're diving deepinto the heart of the community
service, showcasing the impactof dedication and collaboration
in addressing some of the mostpressing challenges our
communities face.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Each episode, we'll tell stories of incredible
people making a difference,innovating solutions and
inspiring others to take action.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
We'll also be giving you a behind-the-scenes look at
the projects that aretransforming their lives, and
we'll discuss how you, too, canget involved, contribute and be
part of the positive change.
Whether you're a seasonedRotarian or just looking to give
back, this podcast is for you.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
So join us as we explore the journeys, challenges
and successes of people likeyou who have stepped up to make
a difference.
Let's celebrate the spirit ofcommunity and the power of hope
together.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Don't forget to subscribe to the Community
Heroes of Hope on your favoritepodcast platform.
Stay with us on this journey ofinspiration and let's spread
the message of hope further thanever.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Thank you for tuning in.
Let's get started, nairin.
One of the biggest things thatwe do in District 5330 is all of
our youth programs and RILA andPRIDE and INTERACT and ROTARACT
and we have quite a few, but wehave a couple of programs that
land under vocational serviceand today we have the
(01:48):
opportunity to talk a little bitabout that.
This particular one is ourfour-way speech contest.
How many students did you havein your club this year with a
four-way speech contest?
Speaker 2 (01:59):
You know, I don't know.
To be honest with you, thefour-way speech contest, as well
as the music, is something thatour club has not been strong in
, and I've been advocating forthat.
So that's a great question.
I really don't know the answerto that.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
And it does start at the club level.
So the four-way speech contestinvites students from our local
high schools and they do aspeech that could be about
pretty much anything, as long asthey weave the four-way test
into it.
And then those that win at theclub level come up to the
district level, and that bringsme to who we have here today.
(02:37):
So I am very pleased to welcomeMary Scott, who is the
chairperson at the districtlevel for our four-way speech
contest.
So, mary, can you introduceyourself and tell us a little
bit more about how this programworks at the district level?
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Thank you, judy, I'm really pleased to be here.
The Rotary Four-Way Test SpeechContest and that's a mouthful
to say is we had 16 studentsthis last year, which means we
had 16 clubs entering ourcontest.
We actually had 17 and onecouldn't make it.
So we have been working toencourage this year to raise the
(03:24):
quality, to support the clubleaders by providing materials
about how the speech would bestructured and that sort of
thing to the students, sendingthem examples of past winning
speeches and so forth.
So I'm working hard to makesure that all students have the
(03:45):
opportunity to do this from aclub level.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
My philosophy is that a lot of students win contests
who have parents behind theirbacks helping them Expand that
(04:13):
by having Rotarians assist thosestudents who otherwise might
not have the resources to becomegood public speakers and to
learn about the Rotary four-waytest.
And it is such an importantpart of a student's journey into
college and into their careersis having the ability to, and
have the comfortableness about,speaking in front of others.
And to that we have Jason herewith us, who actually won the
four-way speech contest fouryears ago.
(04:34):
And Jason, can you talk alittle bit about that experience
and how that has impacted yourlife as you've gone into your
college career?
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Absolutely, and it's a pleasure to be with all of you
here today.
And, as you mentioned, my nameis Jason Davalos and I won the
four-way speech contest back in2021.
And now, as I'm a senior incollege, I'm preparing to
graduate with my Bachelor's ofscience in nursing in May.
Now the speech contest.
(05:07):
I've really noticed how much ithas really impacted the way that
I approach others, especiallyin the clinical environment, as
I approach patients who are intheir most vulnerable state, and
I now have the resources, Ihave the tools, those soft
skills that we always talk aboutin professional development and
(05:32):
some of my university classes.
I now have that skill set toconfidently and calmly approach
these clients in a calm but alsoan empathetic manner as well.
So I think that if I'm able tospeak in front of a crowd of 50
(05:52):
plus people, then I cancertainly approach a patient and
their family in their hospitalroom, and I could do so in a way
that's comforting, in a waythat's maybe charismatic as well
, in a way that's comforting ina way that's maybe charismatic
(06:14):
as well and can bring a littlebit of calm to their
circumstances.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
That's awesome and that's so important.
As you say, it is at their mostvulnerable time.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
And it is a time when they need competence and
compassion and leadership, sothat's excellent.
We also have one of our winnersfrom this year's competition,
peyton English.
Peyton won second place.
Peyton, can you come and tellus a little bit about yourself
and what your experience hasbeen in this contest?
Speaker 5 (06:42):
Hi, so my name is Peyton English and I did get
second and the whole experiencesince I did the Rotary Speech
Contest for about three yearsnow.
It's given me opportunities toreally give my opinion out and
especially motivate students atmy school to get into speech and
debate courses too as well.
(07:03):
But the whole experience isreally nice and refreshing.
I've made so many friends withmeeting new people at different
clubs and different schools andreally get into the culture of
networking, as I will do that inmy future career.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
And Peyton, if I remember correctly, you're on
your way to journalism.
Am I remembering that correctly?
Speaker 5 (07:23):
Yes, so my speech was journalism within
constitutional principlesalongside the Rotary's four-way
test, and that's something thatI really take deeply to because,
with my career in journalismand broadcast, I want to make
sure I provide truthful fairnessbeneficial to all and
definitely build goodwill andbetter friendships within my
(07:44):
journalism practices.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
That's so awesome, peyton, congratulations.
That is something sorely neededall the time in our current
society, so congratulations toyou.
Let me just ask both of you howdid you hear about the four-way
speech competition?
Was it something that theRotary Club came and promoted at
(08:07):
your school?
Was it something that theteachers or a sponsor at the
school let everybody know about?
How did you hear about thespeech competition?
Speaker 5 (08:23):
Well, I originally heard about the speech contest
from my middle schooladministrator, who who happened
to be the person that got meinto speech and debate, so that
was really interesting andthrough more of that, I've also
heard it from the club level too.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
So excellent and jason jason yeah, so when I was
in high school at palm deserthigh school, our local palm
(08:58):
desert rotary club is, and Jasonand I actually learned through
about the speech competition ata meeting they hosted and it was
actually a pizza luncheon.
So if you want to get a bunchof high school students to come
in and listen to you, you canbuy them pizza.
Just bring pizza and you'll havea packed house.
And that was exactly the case.
And so I attended the luncheonand I got to learn more about
(09:20):
the competition and I toldmyself I was a junior in high
school.
At this point I said you knowwhat?
I'll give it a shot.
I, I had never had any priorspeech or debate experience and
I said I think this, this is agood time to to go ahead and go
for it.
So I, I joined the competitionin my junior year of high school
(09:40):
and I I had some very valuablepractice at the high school, at
the local school level, atPonderosa High School,
phenomenal coaches, dominicFruckman and, of course, mary
Scott helping me out navigatethis new world of public
speaking.
So it was, it was a greatintroduction and by senior year
(10:02):
that very next year, I was ableto go ahead and take it all the
way to the district and win thewhole competition.
But it was a very, veryrewarding experience.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Desert and other Rotary clubs give to young
people is so important, and howto think, both in Peyton's case
and Jason's case, how the arc oftheir life has been pushed a
little bit more in one directionand to help support them on to
an unknown but successful future.
So you know, mary, and to youand all the other clubs out
there and I think that's reallyimportant for other clubs to
(10:45):
realize that you need to getinvolved with the youth, the
youth of our future, first ofall of our country.
So in 20 years, you know,peyton may be running the
Washington Post.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
I saw her speak.
She probably will be.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
And Jason's going to be the president of Loma Linda
University Medical Center orsomething, and you know that is
so important.
And just to think that Mary andothers gave them that little
nudge and gave them theopportunity and the strength to
say you know what, I'll try thatLet me step out, that is so
critical.
So kudos to you guys forstepping out and taking the
opportunity and to Mary and theother clubs for getting involved
(11:21):
with the youth.
It's the future of our countryand that's so needed.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
So thank you for that and, like the pizza, there's an
incentive along with this.
So these students each winactual hard cash dollars at the
club level and then they winprizes at the district level as
well.
And, mary, I'd like maybe youto talk a bit about some of the
coaching you know Jasonmentioned coaching, and the
(11:47):
coaching is not just the speechbut also the presence and talk a
little bit more about what youdo and what your associates do
to help these students beprepared, and in which ways do
you do that?
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Well, I would like to cite our current club level
coordinator, Massey Pitt, who isfollowing along with the
program that we developed wherethey meet with the students at
lunchtime, and so it's a veryshort meeting and she does.
(12:23):
We do bring pizza and we bringa little little Mandarin,
oranges and bottles of water andthe kids can bring their own
lunches.
But if we didn't do that they'dhave to stand in line to go get
their lunch.
So that that's an incentive tocome and a way to get them in,
to get them sooner, and webasically meet with them, I
would say a maximum of fiveThursday afternoons in a row
(12:47):
right after winter break, and westart with what the speech is
about and we share with themwhat we call the Rotary Four-Way
Test Speech Sandwich, which isa document that shows what goes
on top, what goes in the middleand what goes on the bottom of
the speech itself.
So we share that with them.
(13:09):
We bring other students in whohave done well.
Before we show videos we talkabout, we give them a piece of
document that says a speech isnot an essay, because so many
schools do not have speakingspeech programs to an extent, so
(13:32):
we have little coachingmaterials that we pass along to
the students, and the mostimportant document, I think, is
we give them the score sheet inadvance.
How can you know what standardsyou're going to be moving, I
think is we give them the scoresheet in advance.
How can you know what standardsyou're going to be moving, you
know to achieve, unless you havethat score sheet?
So we're working with I haveZoom meetings with my chair
(13:54):
people throughout the districtto encourage them to provide
those items and to coach thekids that way.
Some schools do, some clubs dojust pass it on to a particular
teacher at their particularschool and sometimes those
teachers accept and use thosematerials and other times maybe
(14:18):
not so much.
So we're encouraging people tomake sure they understand what
the standards are.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
It's important that the clubs be involved, and I've
been to a couple of differentclubs where I've listened to the
participants in the speechcontest and it's very clear,
those that didn't get all thosegreat instructions you're
talking about, because, you know, maybe they did an amazing
speech but it didn't have thefour-way test anywhere in it and
(14:47):
then they're, you know,disqualified from the score
sheet and you, just, I, just myheart just bleeds for them
because it's like, oh, mygoodness, you did such a good
job.
Can we talk a little bit abouthow Toastmasters is also
intertwined in this?
I know that Rotary andToastmasters have kind of come
together in a partnership, andwhat brings me to this is
watching Peyton speak, and thishappened with pretty much
(15:08):
everybody, but Peytonspecifically has a very
excellent grasp on how to usehand gestures while she was
speaking and that I think Iwould assume is part of the
coaching.
She did it meticulously.
So can we do we speak a littlebit to that, mary, and then
maybe Peyton, to what kind ofcoaching that you got as well?
Speaker 3 (15:32):
Sure, at the club level, we had a partnership with
Toastmasters, and soToastmasters not only judged,
helped to judge the speeches,but they came in and helped to
coach, and I'm also encouragingthe schools to consider having a
junior Toastmasters program attheir school, which would be
wonderful.
So Jason mentions Dominique,dominique Fructman, and she
(15:59):
partnered with me at the verybeginning to help coach these
students and she is a championToastmaster.
So we encourage that to takeplace, and this year, more than
half of would do in Toastmasters, so we collected a written
(16:31):
compendium of what they said oneyear in 2023.
And then we hand that out toour students to say this is what
the Toastmasters see and thisis what they suggest for you.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
So, Peyton, thank you Mary.
Peyton, can you speak to whereyou learned this skill that you
have of including proper handgestures in your communication,
in your speech?
Speaker 5 (16:59):
Yeah, of course.
I mean when I was like reallylittle, this was like one of the
funniest things I couldremember.
I would be in grocery storeswith my mom and dad and I would
always talk to random strangers,ask them how their day was, ask
them how they're doing.
So I think that's reallystarted where I was really
communicative and reallytalkative to people.
But also with the hand gestures.
(17:19):
I learned that from mygrandfather at a very early age,
so I knew I was going to be apublic speaker since very little
.
I like talking and I likecommunicating, so I think that's
very important, but also withthe hand gestures.
Sorry, but also with the handgestures.
My grandfather also told me youwant to make sure your hand
gestures correlate to whatyou're speaking about.
If you're having full theatricswhen speaking, that can really
(17:44):
take away from what your mainpoint is in conversation.
And also I like to point outeye contact is a major thing in
public speaking because you wantto make sure that your audience
it feels like you're having aconversation with them instead
of talking at them, and I feellike that's a very crucial thing
to learn.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Well, you got it down .
She executed it perfectly.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
I will have to say Peyton.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
That's amazing, I tell you.
The difference with Jason andPeyton at these young ages is
extraordinary, because I did nothave that speech support that
you have.
I remember giving apresentation in business school
(18:28):
and what was supposed to havebeen a 20-minute conversation or
20-minute presentation was overin about four and a half
minutes.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Hello, how are you?
Goodbye.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
That's right.
So the confidence and thecompetence and what you exude
and everything is that makessuch a difference.
So I'm just so excited aboutthis program and the impact upon
the kids.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
It is definitely something that is one of the
best parts of what we do atRotary.
And speaking of that, mary, how, if someone is listening to
this program and say they're aRotarian, or maybe they're not a
Rotarian and they'd like to getthis into their schools or into
their region, what would yourecommend that they do?
Speaker 3 (19:14):
If they know a Rotarian in their local area
they can contact their localclub.
They can also reach me anytime.
I seem to be doing this yearround to help people get started
, because it does require somework getting contacts with the
schools and setting up thetimelines and so forth.
(19:38):
So may I give my email addresshere, you may if you don't mind
people sending you emails.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
I don't mind.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
So it's MaryQINPD, like Mary Queen in Palm Desert.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Just like that.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
At gmailcom, so I'd be happy to have anyone contact
me.
We work with homeschoolstudents, we work with private
school students and publicschool, high school, high school
level, but any of those kindsof schools would be perfectly
fine.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
How do you get the information out to the
homeschool?
That's a very important pointthat you just brought up there.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
Well, that's the Rotary Club.
The Rotary Club has its networkof schools that they work with,
and so that's up to the clubsto do that.
And we do have several studentswho were a couple of students
who were homeschooled that werein our contest this time.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
So the clubs make their own contacts and then they
send them to us Yep, once they,once they've gone through the
club contest, then the firstones.
Speaking of how a showcase I'mactually going to bring up the
showcase we this year are havingboth the district speech
(21:02):
contestant winners and the musiccontest winners at a special
showcase on April 6th.
Mary, can you talk a little bitabout that, where that is, when
that is and how people can getinvolved?
Speaker 3 (21:14):
Yes, it's in a beautiful facility called the
Benedict Castle in Riverside.
It's an amazing place.
It's a one of a kind.
It is truly a castle and wewill be showcasing the top three
speech winners and, I believe,the top nine music winners,
(21:37):
because there are threedifferent categories of music
and it does have limited seating.
That's the only disadvantage ofthat particular venue.
It only seats 100, but we wouldlike to get that 100.
So my suggestion is to contactyour club and say I would like
(21:59):
to go to this.
Please put me in.
It's from, I believe it's from1 to no, from 3 to 4.30 pm on
Sunday April 6th.
It's going to be a lovely,lovely concert where the
performers are all young people.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
And you can go to district5330.org and look on the
events calendar and the ticketsshould be on sale there now.
I believe that those got put upthis last week.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
So I assumed that only Rotarians could access that
, but you're right.
Yep, it is yes.
You can just click on that andmake a reservation for it.
I believe it is free of charge.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
No, I think we were charging $10.
Oh, it's $15.
Yeah, $15.
Yeah, there's a little bit ofcharge.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
So thank you for that correction, Judy.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
No worries, Any final thoughts Jason.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
Absolutely.
To any students out there whoare considering just taking a
shot and starting their journeywith the Rotary 4-Way Speech
Contest, I say just take achance on yourself, believe on
yourself and go for it.
I remember Mary can attest tothis how timid and nervous I was
at the beginning of thiscompetition, but as I learned to
(23:14):
embrace public speaking andjust how you can incorporate
your personality, your humor,your charisma it's not about an
essay.
You don't have to tackle somehuge ethical or political
question.
You can speak about yourpersonal experiences, a story,
and you can make it your own.
So own this competition, ownthis speech, make it your own
(23:39):
and go out there and have funwith it.
That's really the main goalthat I'd like to hammer with all
the contestants is that this isreally about having fun with
your speech and if you do that,all the other skills will follow
.
So good luck and happy speakingto all of those contestants out
there.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Awesome, great, great advice, peyton, any final words
?
Speaker 5 (24:05):
Yeah, so I can definitely speak for my
generation.
When giving a speech, it can bereally scary coming down to the
placement where you rank and Ijust want to say no matter if
you get second, third, fourth oret cetera, it doesn't define
you as a speaker.
If you're speaking and givingyour opinion enthusiastically
and you're engaging the audience, that is more than a rank, than
(24:26):
first place.
So this goes out to anyone thatwants to try public speaking
but is too scared to see wherethey are Just do it.
All the great public speakersdidn't let a rank stop them from
being their news.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Excellent advice.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Excellent advice.
I wish everybody wouldunderstand that.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
And Mary, any final words, I think the Rotary
four-way speech also contributesto the network that these
students have access to, toother aspects of Rotary, such as
scholarships.
So we've kept in touch withJason through our club over the
years and it's been veryrewarding for us and we hope for
(25:07):
him that we match resources andwe meet the students through
this process and then put themin touch with other aspects of
Rotary.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Awesome, and that someday they will also become
Rotarians in a club near them.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
Absolutely, or Rotaractors.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
Whatever, it's all Rotary.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
It's all Rotary.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
Well, thank you all for joining us today.
We really appreciate it.
This podcast will be availableon district5330.org there is a
button called the podcast andit'll be up.
We edit them and get them outonce a week for the next four to
six weeks.
So keep an eye out for that andshare with your friends, and
maybe they too will get excitedabout our District 5330 four-way
(25:54):
speech contest.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Jason and Peyton.
We're looking for great thingsout of both of you and you've
done just amazingly well so far.
And, mary, thank you for allyou do and your team.
It's just quite extraordinary,thank you.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
So that wraps up this episode of Heroes of Hope.
We are so happy that we have anaudience out there listening.
We want you to subscribe, shareand tell your friends about the
Rotary Community Heroes of Hope, because that's how we get the
word out about the impact we'rehaving in this world.
Hello and welcome to the Community.
Heroes of Hope, a podcast wherewe shine a light on the
remarkable individuals andprojects in Rotary District 5330
that bring hope and change toour local and global communities
.
I am Judy Zelfikar, yourco-host and the current District
Governor of Rotary District5330.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
And I'm Niren McLean, the Rotary District
Governor-Elect, and I'm NirenMcLean, the Rotary District
Governor-Elect.
Together, we're diving deepinto the heart of the community
service, showcasing the impactof dedication and collaboration
in addressing some of the mostpressing challenges our
communities face.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Each episode, we'll tell stories of incredible
people making a difference,innovating solutions and
inspiring others to take action.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
We'll also be giving you a behind-the-scenes look at
the projects that aretransforming their lives, and
we'll discuss how you, too, canget involved, contribute and be
part of the positive change.
Whether you're a seasonedRotarian or just looking to give
back, this podcast is for you.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
So join us as we explore the journeys, challenges
and successes of people likeyou who have stepped up to make
a difference.
Let's celebrate the spirit ofcommunity and the power of hope
together.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Don't forget to subscribe to the Community
Heroes of Hope on your favoritepodcast platform.
Stay with us on this journey ofinspiration and let's spread
the message of hope further thanever.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Thank you for tuning in.
Let's get started, nairin.
One of the biggest things thatwe do in District 5330 is all of
our youth programs and RILA andPRIDE and INTERACT and ROTARACT
and we have quite a few, but wehave a couple of programs that
land under vocational serviceand today we have the
(01:48):
opportunity to talk a little bitabout that.
This particular one is ourfour-way speech contest.
How many students did you havein your club this year with a
four-way speech contest?
Speaker 2 (01:59):
You know, I don't know.
To be honest with you, thefour-way speech contest, as well
as the music, is something thatour club has not been strong in
, and I've been advocating forthat.
So that's a great question.
I really don't know the answerto that.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
And it does start at the club level.
So the four-way speech contestinvites students from our local
high schools and they do aspeech that could be about
pretty much anything, as long asthey weave the four-way test
into it.
And then those that win at theclub level come up to the
district level, and that bringsme to who we have here today.
(02:37):
So I am very pleased to welcomeMary Scott, who is the
chairperson at the districtlevel for our four-way speech
contest.
So, mary, can you introduceyourself and tell us a little
bit more about how this programworks at the district level?
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Thank you, judy, I'm really pleased to be here.
The Rotary Four-Way Test SpeechContest and that's a mouthful
to say is we had 16 studentsthis last year, which means we
had 16 clubs entering ourcontest.
We actually had 17 and onecouldn't make it.
So we have been working toencourage this year to raise the
(03:24):
quality, to support the clubleaders by providing materials
about how the speech would bestructured and that sort of
thing to the students, sendingthem examples of past winning
speeches and so forth.
So I'm working hard to makesure that all students have the
(03:45):
opportunity to do this from aclub level.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
My philosophy is that a lot of students win contests
who have parents behind theirbacks helping them Expand that
(04:13):
by having Rotarians assist thosestudents who otherwise might
not have the resources to becomegood public speakers and to
learn about the Rotary four-waytest.
And it is such an importantpart of a student's journey into
college and into their careersis having the ability to, and
have the comfortableness about,speaking in front of others.
And to that we have Jason herewith us, who actually won the
four-way speech contest fouryears ago.
(04:34):
And Jason, can you talk alittle bit about that experience
and how that has impacted yourlife as you've gone into your
college career?
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Absolutely, and it's a pleasure to be with all of you
here today.
And, as you mentioned, my nameis Jason Davalos and I won the
four-way speech contest back in2021.
And now, as I'm a senior incollege, I'm preparing to
graduate with my Bachelor's ofscience in nursing in May.
Now the speech contest.
(05:07):
I've really noticed how much ithas really impacted the way that
I approach others, especiallyin the clinical environment, as
I approach patients who are intheir most vulnerable state, and
I now have the resources, Ihave the tools, those soft
skills that we always talk aboutin professional development and
(05:32):
some of my university classes.
I now have that skill set toconfidently and calmly approach
these clients in a calm but alsoan empathetic manner as well.
So I think that if I'm able tospeak in front of a crowd of 50
(05:52):
plus people, then I cancertainly approach a patient and
their family in their hospitalroom, and I could do so in a way
that's comforting, in a waythat's maybe charismatic as well
, in a way that's comforting ina way that's maybe charismatic
(06:14):
as well and can bring a littlebit of calm to their
circumstances.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
That's awesome and that's so important.
As you say, it is at their mostvulnerable time.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
And it is a time when they need competence and
compassion and leadership, sothat's excellent.
We also have one of our winnersfrom this year's competition,
peyton English.
Peyton won second place.
Peyton, can you come and tellus a little bit about yourself
and what your experience hasbeen in this contest?
Speaker 5 (06:42):
Hi, so my name is Peyton English and I did get
second and the whole experiencesince I did the Rotary Speech
Contest for about three yearsnow.
It's given me opportunities toreally give my opinion out and
especially motivate students atmy school to get into speech and
debate courses too as well.
(07:03):
But the whole experience isreally nice and refreshing.
I've made so many friends withmeeting new people at different
clubs and different schools andreally get into the culture of
networking, as I will do that inmy future career.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
And Peyton, if I remember correctly, you're on
your way to journalism.
Am I remembering that correctly?
Speaker 5 (07:23):
Yes, so my speech was journalism within
constitutional principlesalongside the Rotary's four-way
test, and that's something thatI really take deeply to because,
with my career in journalismand broadcast, I want to make
sure I provide truthful fairnessbeneficial to all and
definitely build goodwill andbetter friendships within my
(07:44):
journalism practices.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
That's so awesome, peyton, congratulations.
That is something sorely neededall the time in our current
society, so congratulations toyou.
Let me just ask both of you howdid you hear about the four-way
speech competition?
Was it something that theRotary Club came and promoted at
(08:07):
your school?
Was it something that theteachers or a sponsor at the
school let everybody know about?
How did you hear about thespeech competition?
Speaker 5 (08:23):
Well, I originally heard about the speech contest
from my middle schooladministrator, who who happened
to be the person that got meinto speech and debate, so that
was really interesting andthrough more of that, I've also
heard it from the club level too.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
So excellent and jason jason yeah, so when I was
in high school at palm deserthigh school, our local palm
(08:58):
desert rotary club is, and Jasonand I actually learned through
about the speech competition ata meeting they hosted and it was
actually a pizza luncheon.
So if you want to get a bunchof high school students to come
in and listen to you, you canbuy them pizza.
Just bring pizza and you'll havea packed house.
And that was exactly the case.
And so I attended the luncheonand I got to learn more about
(09:20):
the competition and I toldmyself I was a junior in high
school.
At this point I said you knowwhat?
I'll give it a shot.
I, I had never had any priorspeech or debate experience and
I said I think this, this is agood time to to go ahead and go
for it.
So I, I joined the competitionin my junior year of high school
(09:40):
and I I had some very valuablepractice at the high school, at
the local school level, atPonderosa High School,
phenomenal coaches, dominicFruckman and, of course, mary
Scott helping me out navigatethis new world of public
speaking.
So it was, it was a greatintroduction and by senior year
(10:02):
that very next year, I was ableto go ahead and take it all the
way to the district and win thewhole competition.
But it was a very, veryrewarding experience.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Desert and other Rotary clubs give to young
people is so important, and howto think, both in Peyton's case
and Jason's case, how the arc oftheir life has been pushed a
little bit more in one directionand to help support them on to
an unknown but successful future.
So you know, mary, and to youand all the other clubs out
there and I think that's reallyimportant for other clubs to
(10:45):
realize that you need to getinvolved with the youth, the
youth of our future, first ofall of our country.
So in 20 years, you know,peyton may be running the
Washington Post.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
I saw her speak.
She probably will be.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
And Jason's going to be the president of Loma Linda
University Medical Center orsomething, and you know that is
so important.
And just to think that Mary andothers gave them that little
nudge and gave them theopportunity and the strength to
say you know what, I'll try thatLet me step out, that is so
critical.
So kudos to you guys forstepping out and taking the
opportunity and to Mary and theother clubs for getting involved
(11:21):
with the youth.
It's the future of our countryand that's so needed.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
So thank you for that and, like the pizza, there's an
incentive along with this.
So these students each winactual hard cash dollars at the
club level and then they winprizes at the district level as
well.
And, mary, I'd like maybe youto talk a bit about some of the
coaching you know Jasonmentioned coaching, and the
(11:47):
coaching is not just the speechbut also the presence and talk a
little bit more about what youdo and what your associates do
to help these students beprepared, and in which ways do
you do that?
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Well, I would like to cite our current club level
coordinator, Massey Pitt, who isfollowing along with the
program that we developed wherethey meet with the students at
lunchtime, and so it's a veryshort meeting and she does.
(12:23):
We do bring pizza and we bringa little little Mandarin,
oranges and bottles of water andthe kids can bring their own
lunches.
But if we didn't do that they'dhave to stand in line to go get
their lunch.
So that that's an incentive tocome and a way to get them in,
to get them sooner, and webasically meet with them, I
would say a maximum of fiveThursday afternoons in a row
(12:47):
right after winter break, and westart with what the speech is
about and we share with themwhat we call the Rotary Four-Way
Test Speech Sandwich, which isa document that shows what goes
on top, what goes in the middleand what goes on the bottom of
the speech itself.
So we share that with them.
(13:09):
We bring other students in whohave done well.
Before we show videos we talkabout, we give them a piece of
document that says a speech isnot an essay, because so many
schools do not have speakingspeech programs to an extent, so
(13:32):
we have little coachingmaterials that we pass along to
the students, and the mostimportant document, I think, is
we give them the score sheet inadvance.
How can you know what standardsyou're going to be moving, I
think is we give them the scoresheet in advance.
How can you know what standardsyou're going to be moving, you
know to achieve, unless you havethat score sheet?
So we're working with I haveZoom meetings with my chair
(13:54):
people throughout the districtto encourage them to provide
those items and to coach thekids that way.
Some schools do, some clubs dojust pass it on to a particular
teacher at their particularschool and sometimes those
teachers accept and use thosematerials and other times maybe
(14:18):
not so much.
So we're encouraging people tomake sure they understand what
the standards are.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
It's important that the clubs be involved, and I've
been to a couple of differentclubs where I've listened to the
participants in the speechcontest and it's very clear,
those that didn't get all thosegreat instructions you're
talking about, because, you know, maybe they did an amazing
speech but it didn't have thefour-way test anywhere in it and
(14:47):
then they're, you know,disqualified from the score
sheet and you, just, I, just myheart just bleeds for them
because it's like, oh, mygoodness, you did such a good
job.
Can we talk a little bit abouthow Toastmasters is also
intertwined in this?
I know that Rotary andToastmasters have kind of come
together in a partnership, andwhat brings me to this is
watching Peyton speak, and thishappened with pretty much
(15:08):
everybody, but Peytonspecifically has a very
excellent grasp on how to usehand gestures while she was
speaking and that I think Iwould assume is part of the
coaching.
She did it meticulously.
So can we do we speak a littlebit to that, mary, and then
maybe Peyton, to what kind ofcoaching that you got as well?
Speaker 3 (15:32):
Sure, at the club level, we had a partnership with
Toastmasters, and soToastmasters not only judged,
helped to judge the speeches,but they came in and helped to
coach, and I'm also encouragingthe schools to consider having a
junior Toastmasters program attheir school, which would be
wonderful.
So Jason mentions Dominique,dominique Fructman, and she
(15:59):
partnered with me at the verybeginning to help coach these
students and she is a championToastmaster.
So we encourage that to takeplace, and this year, more than
half of would do in Toastmasters, so we collected a written
(16:31):
compendium of what they said oneyear in 2023.
And then we hand that out toour students to say this is what
the Toastmasters see and thisis what they suggest for you.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
So, Peyton, thank you Mary.
Peyton, can you speak to whereyou learned this skill that you
have of including proper handgestures in your communication,
in your speech?
Speaker 5 (16:59):
Yeah, of course.
I mean when I was like reallylittle, this was like one of the
funniest things I couldremember.
I would be in grocery storeswith my mom and dad and I would
always talk to random strangers,ask them how their day was, ask
them how they're doing.
So I think that's reallystarted where I was really
communicative and reallytalkative to people.
But also with the hand gestures.
(17:19):
I learned that from mygrandfather at a very early age,
so I knew I was going to be apublic speaker since very little
.
I like talking and I likecommunicating, so I think that's
very important, but also withthe hand gestures.
Sorry, but also with the handgestures.
My grandfather also told me youwant to make sure your hand
gestures correlate to whatyou're speaking about.
If you're having full theatricswhen speaking, that can really
(17:44):
take away from what your mainpoint is in conversation.
And also I like to point outeye contact is a major thing in
public speaking because you wantto make sure that your audience
it feels like you're having aconversation with them instead
of talking at them, and I feellike that's a very crucial thing
to learn.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Well, you got it down .
She executed it perfectly.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
I will have to say Peyton.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
That's amazing, I tell you.
The difference with Jason andPeyton at these young ages is
extraordinary, because I did nothave that speech support that
you have.
I remember giving apresentation in business school
(18:28):
and what was supposed to havebeen a 20-minute conversation or
20-minute presentation was overin about four and a half
minutes.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Hello, how are you?
Goodbye.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
That's right.
So the confidence and thecompetence and what you exude
and everything is that makessuch a difference.
So I'm just so excited aboutthis program and the impact upon
the kids.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
It is definitely something that is one of the
best parts of what we do atRotary.
And speaking of that, mary, how, if someone is listening to
this program and say they're aRotarian, or maybe they're not a
Rotarian and they'd like to getthis into their schools or into
their region, what would yourecommend that they do?
Speaker 3 (19:14):
If they know a Rotarian in their local area
they can contact their localclub.
They can also reach me anytime.
I seem to be doing this yearround to help people get started
, because it does require somework getting contacts with the
schools and setting up thetimelines and so forth.
(19:38):
So may I give my email addresshere, you may if you don't mind
people sending you emails.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
I don't mind.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
So it's MaryQINPD, like Mary Queen in Palm Desert.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Just like that.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
At gmailcom, so I'd be happy to have anyone contact
me.
We work with homeschoolstudents, we work with private
school students and publicschool, high school, high school
level, but any of those kindsof schools would be perfectly
fine.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
How do you get the information out to the
homeschool?
That's a very important pointthat you just brought up there.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
Well, that's the Rotary Club.
The Rotary Club has its networkof schools that they work with,
and so that's up to the clubsto do that.
And we do have several studentswho were a couple of students
who were homeschooled that werein our contest this time.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
So the clubs make their own contacts and then they
send them to us Yep, once they,once they've gone through the
club contest, then the firstones.
Speaking of how a showcase I'mactually going to bring up the
showcase we this year are havingboth the district speech
(21:02):
contestant winners and the musiccontest winners at a special
showcase on April 6th.
Mary, can you talk a little bitabout that, where that is, when
that is and how people can getinvolved?
Speaker 3 (21:14):
Yes, it's in a beautiful facility called the
Benedict Castle in Riverside.
It's an amazing place.
It's a one of a kind.
It is truly a castle and wewill be showcasing the top three
speech winners and, I believe,the top nine music winners,
(21:37):
because there are threedifferent categories of music
and it does have limited seating.
That's the only disadvantage ofthat particular venue.
It only seats 100, but we wouldlike to get that 100.
So my suggestion is to contactyour club and say I would like
(21:59):
to go to this.
Please put me in.
It's from, I believe it's from1 to no, from 3 to 4.30 pm on
Sunday April 6th.
It's going to be a lovely,lovely concert where the
performers are all young people.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
And you can go to district5330.org and look on the
events calendar and the ticketsshould be on sale there now.
I believe that those got put upthis last week.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
So I assumed that only Rotarians could access that
, but you're right.
Yep, it is yes.
You can just click on that andmake a reservation for it.
I believe it is free of charge.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
No, I think we were charging $10.
Oh, it's $15.
Yeah, $15.
Yeah, there's a little bit ofcharge.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
So thank you for that correction, Judy.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
No worries, Any final thoughts Jason.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
Absolutely.
To any students out there whoare considering just taking a
shot and starting their journeywith the Rotary 4-Way Speech
Contest, I say just take achance on yourself, believe on
yourself and go for it.
I remember Mary can attest tothis how timid and nervous I was
at the beginning of thiscompetition, but as I learned to
(23:14):
embrace public speaking andjust how you can incorporate
your personality, your humor,your charisma it's not about an
essay.
You don't have to tackle somehuge ethical or political
question.
You can speak about yourpersonal experiences, a story,
and you can make it your own.
So own this competition, ownthis speech, make it your own
(23:39):
and go out there and have funwith it.
That's really the main goalthat I'd like to hammer with all
the contestants is that this isreally about having fun with
your speech and if you do that,all the other skills will follow
.
So good luck and happy speakingto all of those contestants out
there.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Awesome, great, great advice, peyton, any final words
?
Speaker 5 (24:05):
Yeah, so I can definitely speak for my
generation.
When giving a speech, it can bereally scary coming down to the
placement where you rank and Ijust want to say no matter if
you get second, third, fourth oret cetera, it doesn't define
you as a speaker.
If you're speaking and givingyour opinion enthusiastically
and you're engaging the audience, that is more than a rank, than
(24:26):
first place.
So this goes out to anyone thatwants to try public speaking
but is too scared to see wherethey are Just do it.
All the great public speakersdidn't let a rank stop them from
being their news.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Excellent advice.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Excellent advice.
I wish everybody wouldunderstand that.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
And Mary, any final words, I think the Rotary
four-way speech also contributesto the network that these
students have access to, toother aspects of Rotary, such as
scholarships.
So we've kept in touch withJason through our club over the
years and it's been veryrewarding for us and we hope for
(25:07):
him that we match resources andwe meet the students through
this process and then put themin touch with other aspects of
Rotary.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Awesome, and that someday they will also become
Rotarians in a club near them.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
Absolutely, or Rotaractors.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
Whatever, it's all Rotary.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
It's all Rotary.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
Well, thank you all for joining us today.
We really appreciate it.
This podcast will be availableon district5330.org there is a
button called the podcast andit'll be up.
We edit them and get them outonce a week for the next four to
six weeks.
So keep an eye out for that andshare with your friends, and
maybe they too will get excitedabout our District 5330 four-way
(25:54):
speech contest.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Jason and Peyton.
We're looking for great thingsout of both of you and you've
done just amazingly well so far.
And, mary, thank you for allyou do and your team.
It's just quite extraordinary,thank you.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
So that wraps up this episode of Heroes of Hope.
We are so happy that we have anaudience out there listening.
We want you to subscribe, shareand tell your friends about the
Rotary Community Heroes of Hope, because that's how we get the
word out about the impact we'rehaving in this world.
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