HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COMPETE FOR PLACE AT NATIONAL COMPETITION IN CHARLESTON, SC

“You have a choice to stand for life or to stand for death. For all these unborn children and those who have been broken and mislead, will you join me? Will you fight for life like you are on your warhorse in the greatest battle of all time? Because that is what we are in! Now is the time!” This call to action is in the speech given by Lindsey White, winner of this year's Tennessee Right to Life Pro-Life Oratory Contest for high school students.

The 20th annual event was held at Saint Cecilia Academy in Nashville on Saturday, April 27. Winners from 13 participating chapters across the state qualified to attend by competing against over 50 public, private, and home-schooled students in grades 9-12. Each contestant researched, wrote, and presented an original 5-7 minute pro-life speech on abortion, euthanasia, infanticide, or stem-cell research.

Lindsey, a high school senior from Rutherford County, opened with the story of Norma McCorvey, also known as Jane Roe of Roe v. Wade. She continued to speak about protecting life,  “Evidence of when life begins is all throughout science. According to medical records, the genes and sex of the baby are set at the very instant of fertilization....Once the object of life has been decided, it is obvious that no age can make the brutality of abortion bearable. What happened to the rights of the peaceful child with soft skin and tiny hands, curled up in the womb of its mother? They have a right, a right that is violated before they can fight for it..."

Other finalists in the state contest were Jacob Price, a senior from Greater Chattanooga area, encouraged everyone to stand and fight the increasing reasons for euthanasia; Sarah Camp, a sophomore representing Lawrence County, told of what led her to be Pro-life; and Mary Claire Birge, a senior representing Knox County, shared that every person, regardless of disability or situation, deserves a right to life.

Later this summer, Lindsey will represent Tennessee at the National Right to Life Jane B. Thompson Oratory Contest in Charleston, S.C.

“The students who present speeches at this annual event never cease to amaze me. Any of our finalists would represent Tennessee well at the national competition!” exclaimed Frances Arthur, oratory contest chairman. “Their speeches were impressive and their delivery was impassioned. I hope that each of the county winners will be given opportunities to share their speeches again. These are our future leaders, and it is our responsibility to support them in their endeavors.”

Tennessee Right to Life commends all of the contestants in Saturday's contest, as well as Tennessee Right to Life chapters who organized local competitions. Contestants competing on Saturday: Mary Claire Birge, Knox County, Grace Borck, Smith County, Brent Boutelle, Fentress County, Sarah Camp, Lawrence County, Kendal Matas, Davidson/Williamson Counties, Olivia Nichols, Claiborne County, Zachary Person, Shelby County, Jacob Price, Greater Chattanooga, Mary Clare Schachle, Dickson County, Calvin Shaw, Cheatham County, Violet Thorne, Wilson County and Lindsey White, Rutherford County.

Please consider how you might support this important project. Youth-oriented gifts and cash contributions are needed to fund prizes as well as traveling expenses to the national competition for Tennessee's winner.

Click here to make a tax-deductible contribution and select High School Contest as the Program Designation

Lindsey White giving her winning speech.		TN Right to Life chapter contest winners that competed on Saturday.		Contest finalists: Jacob Price, Frances Arthur (contest chairman), Sarah Camp, Mary Claire Birge, & Lindsey White