The winners of the Virginia Society for Human Life, Inc., Educational Fund, Alex and Geline Williams Pro-Life Oratory Contest held in Richmond, Virginia on April 28th are:  first place was Miss Karilyn Sanford of Chesapeake, VA, sponsored by the VSHL Tidewater Chapter; the second place winner was Mr. Michael Rangel of Clifton, VA, sponsored by  Seton School; and the third place winner was Miss Marie Connole of Alexandria, VA, sponsored by Bishop Denis J. O’Connell High School.

            Fifteen  finalists in their junior or senior year of high school competed.  Miss Sanford will represent Virginia at the Jane B. Thompson Oratory Contest national competition in Crystal City, Va, June 30.  This contest is held in conjunction with the annual National Right to Life Convention.

The Alex and Geline Williams Pro-Life Contest is the Virginia statewide pro-life oratory contest sponsored by the Virginia Society for Human Life Educational Fund.  It provides the youth of Virginia a way to seek the truth regarding the right to life, and having found it, to proclaim the truth. 

“This program gives high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to speak in defense of the unalienable right to life of all human beings and on the urgent need to protect them from the tragedy of abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and embryonic stem cell research,” stated Michele Arocha Allen, coordinator of the VSHL contest.

“All of this year’s speakers demonstrated an exceptionally high level of poise and understanding about these vital issues, “said Olivia Gans Turner, President of VSHL. “The Commonwealth of Virginia is fortunate to have so many eloquent defenders of human life rising up in the next generation.”

Founded in 1967, the Virginia Society for Human Life is the oldest state pro-life organization in the nation with chapters throughout the Commonwealth.  It is the Virginia state affiliate to the National Right to Life Committee 

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