In December, nearly 70 local students entered papers into the Grand Rapids Right to Life third annual Prolife Essay Contest.
The competition, open to students in grades 7-9 in the junior category and students in grades 10-12 in the senior category, required participants to address the topic “Why I am Prolife.”
In the senior division, Clare Lindgren, a junior, won first place and Rebecca Greendyk, a senior, won second place. In the junior contest, Joshua Haskell and Hope Thome, both freshmen, won first and second place respectively. Their essays demonstrated fervent belief in the sanctity of human life from conception, often citing both science and religion to support their arguments.
“A true understanding of life and death, the societal impact of disregard for human life, and the fundamental dignity of the human person are the principle reasons why I am prolife,” wrote Lindgren.
The judges were encouraged to see so many teenagers’ passionate determination to fight abortion. “Perhaps this war will come to an end…. However, as long as it continues, those who are prolife must speak up for their beliefs and share their opinions charitably and zealously. They must unite and take it one battle at a time, while remaining hopeful for the future,” concluded Thome.
The winners received monetary prizes and their essays will be submitted to the National Right to Life competition in January.