Press Releases

COLUMBUS, OH – Rachel del Guidice, a member of Right to Life of Northeast Ohio, won first place in the 2012 Ohio Right to Life Oratory Contest held this past Saturday at The Ohio State University. The contest was hosted by The Pro-Life Club at The Ohio State University. Rachel, a high school senior in Wayne County, will compete at the National Pro-Life Oratory Contest to be held during the National Right to Life Convention in Crystal City, Virginia this June.

“We are proud to have Rachel represent the pro-life state of Ohio in this year’s national contest,” stated Erin Cain, Director of External Affairs at Ohio Right to Life. “All of the contestants this year spoke very well on the issue. We are excited that these youth are the future of the pro-life movement.”

Second place went to Hannah Beck of Mercer County Right to Life and third place to Katelynn Buchwalter of Wayne-Holmes Right to Life.

The eight high school juniors and seniors, each of whom won their local pro-life oratory contest, wrote and presented an original speech on abortion, embryonic stem cell research, infanticide or euthanasia.

“The dignity and sanctity of human life is at the forefront of public debate, now more than ever,” said Mike Gonidakis, President of Ohio Right to Life. “Today’s teens are tomorrow’s public officials and pro-life leaders. We need to do everything we can to encourage them to establish the skills needed to speak out in a positive way.”

There were three judges for the contest, all from Columbus: Pastor John Coats, Ohio Right to Life Trustee; Judy Schlueter, Founder and Director of Bethesda Healing Ministry and Collin Maio, member of The Pro-Life Club at OSU.

As the winner of the state competition, Rachel will receive a paid trip to the national contest in Virginia this June from Ohio Right to Life. The winner of the national contest will receive a $1000 scholarship. To see pictures from the event, click here.