Eight finalists from around the Commonwealth came to Richmond on Saturday, April 28, 2001 to compete in the Virginia finals of the Pro-Life Oratory contest sponsored by the Virginia Society for Human Life.

The VSHL Oratory Contest is a statewide pro-life program to encourage the youth of Virginia to seek the truth regarding the right to life, and having found it, to proclaim the truth to all. "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 and euthanasia," stated Kathryn Nowinsky, coordinator for the VSHL contest.

This year's first place winner is Elizabeth Elliott, a senior at Seton High School in Manassas, Virginia. Her speech was entitled "Abortion - Holocaust of Our Generation." The second place winner was Christin McLewin, a homeschooler from Norfolk in her senior year. Miss McLewin's speech was entitled "Inside the Pro-Choice Mind."

Ms. Elliott will represent Virginia at the national competition in Charlotte, North Carolina on June 30, 2001. This competition is held in conjunction with the annual National Right to Life Committee Convention.

Virginia Society for Human Life is the State affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee, Inc.