Metro Voice News Celebrating Faith, Family & Community
Kansans for Life (KFL) is seeking entries for its 2020 David Gittrich Memorial Oratorical Contest for students across the state.
This contest provides the opportunity for Kansas high school juniors and seniors to research, create, and present pro-life views.
To award their efforts in taking a stand for life, the contestants will be judged based on their content, body language and presentation and will have an opportunity to win monetary prizes. The top winner will represent Kansas by competing in the National Right to Life Convention on June 26-27 by videoconference. Registration is free. The form and contest rules are available under “News and Events” at KFL.org. Click on May 30 on the calendar to sign up. Once a completed registration form is received, students are sent a packet containing educational information to help them research their topic.
This year, due to social distancing, the contest will be done by Zoom on May 30, beginning at 1:00 p.m.
2019 top three winners: winners picture, L to R: 3rd Place, Nelle Henning; 2nd Place, Daniel Archer; and 1st Place, Stacia Mendoza.
KFL has a long history of promoting pro-life educational programs for adults and young people. The importance of this oratorical contest cannot be overstated. The coming generation will carry on the work as defenders of the preborn and their mothers. They will speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Their ability to present a stance with confidence will make a big impact on the lives of preborn babies. They will save countless lives. They will affect pro-life legislation in our state. They will be world changers. KFL hosts this event in order to develop their skills with sound facts and research.
KFL hosted an oratorical contest for several years in the 1990s. The contest was started up again in 2018, naming it after their long-time State Development Director, David Gittrich. Amy Torkelson, State Office Director, says “For David Gittrich, pro-life educational programs were the cornerstone of everything KFL did, and he had a special talent for talking to teenagers about the right to life.”
Writing a pro-life speech is very rewarding. Last year’s winner, Stacia Mendoza, went on to advocate for the preborn throughout the state. Her speech, “Speak Up,” focused on the use of jargon to cover up what actually happens in an abortion.
One of this year’s topics is on the need to amend the Kansas Constitution in order to protect women and their preborn babies from an unlimited abortion industry. This is very relevant to the latest vote by our state legislators on the Value Them Both Amendment, which was intended to stop unlimited abortion and taxpayer funded abortion in Kansas.
“The possibilities for growth are endless in our young people,” stated Joan Dunning, Community Outreach Director. “We encourage our teens to let their voices be heard in favor of saving preborn babies and their mothers from death and suffering.”
Amy Torkelson adds, “Many teens who are pro-life don’t know how to explain their position to others. Our contest encourages teens to articulate their pro-life position.”
Deadline to enter is May 15. For more info visit KFL.org’s “News and Events” page. Here’s a link to the registration form. Or contact JoAn@kfl.org or call 1-800-928-5433 for additional support and questions.
–Metro Voice Staff
