About the Rotary Club of York

 

Thank you for your interest in the Rotary Club of York’s Pilot Social Media Contest!

Rotary’s mission is to improve life in the City of York by connecting our club’s diverse community leaders through fellowship, action, and service.  We are people of action and place service above self.  Our club is focused on cultivating youth success in York City.  A core value of Rotary is the Four-Way Test (see below). 

Social Media Contest Question

Our world needs more than words—it needs action. What action can young people take today to create a fairer, kinder, and more truthful tomorrow?

 

Each entry must directly explore and apply the Rotary Four-Way 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?

Choose Your Media to Answer the Question

 

Contest participants may enter one of the following:

  1. 60-90 second video
  2. 6-9 social media posts that are not video (static images and messages)

Each media pathway will have a 1st prize ($500), 2nd prize ($250) and 3rd prize ($100) winner.  That is 6 winners walking away with prize money!  You may only enter once so choose your  category carefully! 

All winners will be recognized at a Rotary Club of York meeting to be held on Wednesday, April 29th, 2026, at the Country Club of York from 11:45 to 1:15. 

Participation Rules:

 
  • This contest is open to students in Grades 6-12 who live in the City of York.
  • Participants do not need to have social media or an Instagram account to enter.
  • If you have Instagram, please share and tag Rotary Club of York and use #RotaryActionContest
  • All participants should upload their submission during registration.  The static posts should be combined into a single PDF document.
  • Participants agree that submissions can be shared on the Rotary Club of York’s social media channels (LinkedIn and Facebook)
  • AI is permitted; however must be disclosed at registration.
  • All entries must be suitable for a school setting. This means no profanity, inappropriate language, political messages, hate speech, bullying, discriminatory remarks, or any other content that would not be acceptable in a classroom environment. Submissions that do not follow these guidelines will be disqualified.

Scoring Rubric:

1. Message & Alignment with Theme – 25 points

  • Clearly communicates a message about Taking Action.
  • Connects to a relevant issue for youth or community.
  • Demonstrates understanding of the Four-Way Test:
    • Is it the truth?
    • Is it fair to all concerned?
    • Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
    • Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

2. Creativity & Originality – 20 points

  • Idea feels fresh and engaging.
  • Shows imagination and personal voice.
  • Avoids repetition or generic content.

3. Impact & Persuasiveness – 20 points

  • Inspires viewers/readers to think, feel, or act.
  • Message is authentic and emotionally compelling.
  • Clearly shows why this action matters.

4. Clarity & Communication – 20 points

  • Message is easy to understand and well organized.
  • Language is appropriate for audience and platform.
  • Captions and text are concise and correct.

5. Technical & Visual Presentation – 15 points

  • For video: clear sound, good lighting, steady visuals, effective pacing.
  • For static posts: strong, consistent design and clear message flow.
  • Effective use of social media elements (text overlay, hashtags, layout).

TOTAL SCORE: 100