Congratulations to Christopher Scott-Brown of Portsmouth, Virginia—winner of the VSHL Statewide Pro-Life Oratory Contest, for his speech entitled “A Bomb Called Abortion.” The contest was held at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church, Richmond, Virginia on Saturday, April 27, 2002, where Christopher was awarded $500 and a trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to represent VSHL in the National Right to Life Oratory Contest (NRLC) on June 29, 2002. While in Pittsburgh, he will have the opportunity to attend the National Teens for Life Convention that runs concurrently with the national convention (being held at the Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Airport Hotel 27-30 June) and to compete for scholarships ranging from $1000 for first place, $750 for second place, $500 for third place, and $250 for fourth place. Christopher came from the VSHL Peninsula Chapter contest and belongs to Homeschool Plus in Virginia Beach. (See text of winning speech.)

Congratulations are also in order for the second place winner, Deirdre Cooley of Clifton. Deirdre, who was awarded $200, came from the Seton School contest and gave an outstanding speech on “Partial Birth Abortion.”

Judging the contest were Mrs. Louise Hartz of Richmond, VSHL’s immediate past president and member of the Va. Board of Nursing; Mrs. Catherine Driscoll of Chesapeake, VSHL’s vice president and political action committee chairman; and Mrs. Rosemary Sutter of Newport News, a teacher at Denbigh Christian Academy and pro-life speaker. Mrs. Elizabeth Harrison of Winchester was timekeeper and Mrs. Patricia Whitecavage of Newport News served as tally person.

The judges reported that the competition was stiff—the scores were close—and that they were impressed by all of the speeches given. The ten contestants were winners of local contests held by VSHL’S Peninsula (Newport News and Hampton) and Winchester Chapters, as well as Seton school and the George Brent Council 5332, Knights of Columbus in Manassas, and Bishop O’Connell H.S. and Father Francis Diamond Council 6292, Knights of Columbus in Alexandria.

To be eligible for the VSHL Statewide and National Right to Life Oratory Contests, one has to be a high school junior or senior, and research and write an original speech (which is five to seven minutes in length) on abortion, infanticide, or euthanasia. Anyone interested in starting a contest in their VSHL chapter or school may contact the VSHL state coordinator, Mrs. Kathy Nowinsky, at (757) 596-4376 or e-mail: knowinsky@aol.com.

Published in VSHL Lifesaver, June 2002