Warminster Rotary Hosts High School Speech Contest

With the passion and ease of a seasoned politician, junior Adam Adnane wowed the members of the Warminster Rotary Club gathered at Giuseppe's restaurant Tuesday night with his fiery presentation on the need to dramatically improve America's education system.

His seven minute argument that the United States needs to do everything it can do catch up to the rest of the world in terms of educating its citizens was impressive enough to earn Adam first prize in Warminster Rotary's first 4-Way Test Speech Contest. He will go on to compete in the regional contest at Central Bucks South on April 7 at 10 a.m., and, if he wins again, will continue to the district finals at Bear Creek in Macungie on April 21.

Adam bested three of his own teammates from the William Tennent debate team. The four of them were told about the contest two months ago and spent that time choosing their topics and refining their speeches. 

"I liked that I wasn't assigned a topic," said Adam, a captain of the debate team. "I think my presentations come out better when I get to choose my own idea and talk about how I really feel about a particular issue."

The format of the speeches had to incorporate what is known as the 4-Way Test, a concept developed by a Rotarian named Herbert Taylor in 1932 as a way to measure personal and business decisions against an ethical code. The speeches on Tuesday night had to answer the four questions that make up that test:

1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

None of the candidates were identified by name until after all the speeches were presented. They had to speak for at least five minutes, but no more than seven, and the identity of the judges were kept secret until after the results were revealed.

Adam took the podium second, after Tennent sophomore Andrew Knox, who earned second place for his discussion on the immorality of the War on Drugs. The third presenter was Jake Arentzen, who placed third after a heartfelt defense of President Obama's health care policies. Finally, freshman Loqman Adnane, Adam's brother, closed the competition with a plea for the government to vigorously enforce the country's immigration laws. Debate coach Chris Berdnik said that despite his fourth place finish, Loqman is definitely on the path to being a top debater.

"He's got a lot of poise and potential, and he's only a freshman," said Berdnik. "In a couple years, he's going to be a monster." 

Berdnik watched the contest and agreed with the final judgments. He felt each competitor displayed the qualities that made them successful members of the debate team.

"Jake has a very folksy approach, but he gets to the point and he's very efficient with his arguments," Berdnik said. "Andrew looks at things from all different perspectives. He can speak aggressively at both sides of a question. And Adam, he's the captain of the team. He's the franchise, the other guys look up to him."

Adam and Loqman will join teammates Michael Pronin and Donato Luongo at Susquehanna University Friday and Saturday for the Pennsylvania High School Speech League's state championship. The Adnanes will participate in the two-person policy debate, while Pronin, a sophomore, competes in a Lincoln-Douglass style value debate. Luongo will take part in the radio announcing competition.

"The great thing about the debate team is that it has the academic side to it," said Berdnik, "but it can be just as competitive as athletics. You need teamwork and leadership, just as you do in sports. It's rare that you can experience something that has those two sides."