Photos by Deb Gau From left to right, Marshall Middle School sixth grade students Gissel Mares, Landrey Graven and Joshua Mikals wrote the winning essays in the Rotary Four-Way Test Essay Contest. Mares placed third, Graven second and Mikals placed first in the contest. The three students were presented with certificates during an assembly on Thursday afternoon.

MARSHALL — Matt Pedersen had some exciting news to share with the sixth graders gathered at Marshall Middle School on Thursday.

The students had written essays for this year’s Rotary Four-Way Test essay contest, and Pedersen was there to help announce the winners.

“We read some really fantastic essays, from all of you,” Pedersen said.

As Pedersen called out the names of Joshua Mikals, Landrey Graven and Gissel Mares, students clapped and cheered. Mikals won first place in the Rotary contest, with Graven and Mares winning second and third place. Members of the Marshall Noon Rotary Club presented the three students with certificates.

In addition to announcing the Rotary essay contest winners, language arts teachers at MMS also recognized top essays from students in their own classes.

In their essays, MMS students wrote about how the Four-Way Test, a moral guide used by the Rotary, connects with their own lives. Pedersen went over the four questions of the test with students on Thursday.

“Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Does it build good will and better friendships? And is it beneficial to all concerned?” he said.

Rotary members also talked with students about some of the community projects the club works on. Lots of students at Thursday’s assembly still had the dictionaries Rotary members gave them in third grade. The club also helps support Marshall parks, and works to help fight polio around the world, Rotary member Carol Alness said.

“I think one of the coolest things we do is meet here in school with you,” Pedersen told students.