Westfield student wins Western Zone Competition

Last Saturday three high school students who walked away as first, second, and third place winners for the Western Zone Speech Competition for District 6920. Cooper Hardy came out in first place with Logan Owens from Tifton Georgia receiving second place and Anna Scott from Claxton following in third.

Westfield School freshman, Cooper Hardy spoke on his performing arts experience with 4-H and earned the first-place title. He followed The Rotary Servant theme,” Be The Inspiration,” by talking about being an example to younger kids and how we can all be an inspiration to others by example.

This was not Hardy’s first speaking success either. He’s had the privilege of participating in and winning a local competition in Perry sponsored by the Perry Rotary Club at the Zone Competition. Hardy and other students were asked to create a speech on Rotary International’s guiding principles outlined in The Four Way Test or the current year Rotary theme: “Be The Inspiration.”

Hardy was the recipient of a $1000 scholarship and will present his speech at Jekyll Island at the annual conference of District 6920 on May 3.

Western Zone Competition Coordinator Heather Kellen is a proud member of Perry Rotary Club and was thrilled to coordinate and participate in the Western Competition. As a part of the Rotary Club, Kellen encouraged the participants to be inspired by the Rotary theme to accomplish good things in service to others.

“Rotary started these high school speech competitions to encourage students to be leaders, but also in preparing for their speeches they research and learn about Rotary and what we do as an organization and in doing so hopefully get inspired to go out and do good in the world…Be an Inspiration to others” said Kellen. “All of the students that participated gave some amazing speeches. It’s an inspiring event to watch.”

Servanthood is not only about doing good, but also being an inspiration to others. Kellen hopes the students realize part of being an inspiration, is being a positive one. Through this competition, the students learned being an inspiration comes with the responsibility of being a servant leader in the community. She hopes that as a result, all participating students will take implement the lessons they learned throughout all walks of life.