21st ANNUAL PRO LIFE ORATORY CONTEST, 2025
ATTENTION 10th, 11th & 12th Grade H.S. Students!
High 10th, 11th and 12th graders including home schoolers, you have the voice, the enthusiasm, the spirit and the opportunity to speak up for the voiceless and marginalized members of the human family-the pre-born, the frail elderly and the disabled.
Please consider participating in the annual Oratory Contest sponsored by the Long Island Coalition for Life Educational Trust to be held at Joseph Barry Council of Knights of Columbus, 45 Heitz Place, Hicksville, NY on Saturday, March 1st, 2025 from 1 to 4 PM. You will have the opportunity to express in a logical and organized way your respect for the life of every individual no matter how small or incapacitated. The first, second and third place winners will receive $1000, $600 and $400 respectively.
Contestants are to research, write, and present an original 5-7 minute speech on one of these topics directly, using other topics only as support.:
- Abortion
- Assisted Suicide
- Bioethics (as it relates to pro-life)
- Black Genocide (through abortion
- Cloning/Embryonic Stem Cell Research
- Ectogenesis
- Eugenics (as it relates to pro-life)
- Euthanasia
- Fetal Development (in the context of abortion)
- Infanticide
- Legal Points – Right to Life
- Men & Abortion
- Post Abortion
- Pro Life Apologetics
- Special Needs/Down Syndrome (as it relates to pro life)
Contestants can refer to notes during speech but should not read it. Please complete the following application and return it along with your written speech by Feb. 3rd, 2025 to MakeRoom4Him@gmail.com
Download Application Here: https://prolifeed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/OratoryContestApplication.doc
Download Rules Here: https://prolifeed.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Oratory-Contest-Rules.doc
LONG ISLAND COALITION FOR LIFE, EDUCATIONAL TRUST
21st ANNUAL Pro Life ORATORY CONTEST
The twenty First Annual High School Pro Life Oratory Contest, sponsored by the Long Island Coalition for Life Educational Trust, was held On March 1st at Knights of Columbus, Joseph Barry Council in Hicksville.
The contest is open to high school 10th to 12th grade students. We were glad to receive a record 20 submissions this year! 14 were selected as finalists and 13 actually spoke, including 6 from St Pius V: Isabelle Brehemer, Dominic Fantz, Claire Carroll, Thomas Marrone, Isabella Reitzel and Anna Burns.
2 students were from Kellenberg: Emily Cook and Erin Feliciano. Chaminade sent one speaker, Ryan Manno. Grace Christian Academy is where speakers Han Hoi and Priscilla Maclean attend. Lastly 2 speakers attend Our Savior New American school, Anthony Uvenio and Ian Jean-Claude.
Invitations and applications were sent to Guidance Counselors at all LI Public High Schools, but none were received.
Students were invited to research, write and deliver a 5-7 minute original speech on life issues such as abortion, assisted suicide, euthanasia, or cloning/stem cell research.
The judges praised the excellent quality and fine presentations of the speeches, resulting in difficult judging!
The first place winner was Anthony Uvenio, 2nd Place Winner was Isabella Reitzel and 3rd place winner was Priscilla Maclean. Prizes of $1000, $600 and two at $400, along with plaques were awarded to these excellent speakers.
All participants did a fine job and we sincerely thank them for their participation! Thanks also to their parents and teachers for supporting and encouraging them with this worthwhile endeavor!
Judges Kathy Feldman, Fred Peritore and for the first time, Claudette Sherry capably handled the difficult task of selecting winners. Thank you judges!
Thanks to Sr Mary Fatima and Sr Marie Chabanel from St. Pius V, Brother Michael Gillen from Kellenberg, Mr William Clemens from Chaminade, Mr. Bruce Bennet from Our Savior New American School, and Mr Stephen Schultz from Grace Christian Academy, who all encouraged/coordinated with students and/or attended the contest.
Thanks also to Charlie and Kathy Feldman for always arranging the refreshments and décor at the event. Lastly thanks to Coalition members Dan Sherry (Trustee of the Educational Trust), Jack O’Brian, (President of The LI Coalition for Life), Ann Cook and Celeste Broyles who all attended and spoke with participants, helping to make this a very successful event. It was so wonderful to hear the younger generation speaking up for LIFE!
Pictures of Winners: Anthony Uvenio, Isabella Reitzel and Priscilla Maclean.
All Finalists and winners: Isabelle Brehemer, Dominic Fantz, Claire Carroll, Thomas Marrone, Isabella Reitzel, Anna Burns, Emily Cook, Erin Feliciano, Ryan Manno, Han Hoi, Priscilla Maclean, Anthony Uvenio and Ian Jean-Claude.
20TH ANNUAL Pro Life ORATORY CONTEST
The twentieth annual High School Pro Life Oratory Contest, sponsored by the Long Island Coalition for Life Educational Trust, was held On March 2nd, 2024 at Knights of Columbus, Joseph Barry Council in Hicksville.
This year we expanded the contest to include 10th grade students as well as 11th and 12thgraders. We had an unusually large pool of applicants this year, 17 with 6 from St John the Baptist, 5 from Kellenberg Memorial, 4 from St Pius V, 1 from Chaminade, and for the first time, 1 from a Christian School, Grace Christian Academy. (Invitations and applications were sent to Guidance Counselors at all LI Public High Schools, but none were received.) 12 of these students were invited to speak at the contest and 11 actually did so.
Students were invited to research, write and deliver a 5-7 minute original speech on life issues such as abortion, assisted suicide, euthanasia, or cloning/stem cell research. The judges praised the excellent quality and fine presentations of the speeches, resulting in difficult judging!
The first place winner was a repeat from last year, Kathleen Hovestadt from St Pius V High School, 2nd Place winner was Ava Ghecas also from St Pius, while 3rd place went to Madeline Naughton from Kellenberg. Prizes of $1000, $600 and two at $400, along with plaques were awarded to these excellent speakers.
All participants did a fine job and we sincerely thank them for their participation! Thanks also to their parents for supporting them in this worthwhile endeavor.
Robert L. Dougherty Esq. is the generous supporter who provided prize money for the contest. Judges George Frost, Kathy Feldman and Fred Peritore capably handled the difficult task of selecting winners.
Thanks to Sr Mary Fatima and Sr Mary Bernadette from St. Pius V, Brother Michael Gillen from Kellenberg, Mr William Clemens from Chaminade and Mr Stephen Schultz from Grace Christian Academy, who all encouraged/coordinated with students and/or attended the contest.
Thanks also to Charlie and Kathy Feldman for always arranging the refreshments and décor at the event. Lastly thanks to Coalition members Dan Sherry (Chairman of the Educational Trust), Jack O’Brian, Ann Cook and Celeste Broyles who all attended and spoke with participants, helping to make this a very successful event. It was so wonderful to hear the younger generation speaking up for LIFE!
In addition to the 3 winners, we thank all the students who applied and finalists: Olivia Hand from St Pius V, Kevin Kelly, Scott Harford and Emily Cook from Kellenberg, Emilie Bobrowski, Katelyn Hamel from St Johns, Han Hao from Grace Christian Academy and Charles Clague from Chaminade. We applaud you fro speaking up for LIFE!
LONG ISLAND COALITION FOR LIFE
19TH ANNUAL ORATORY CONTEST SUMMARY
The Nineteenth Annual High School Oratory Contest, sponsored by the Long Island Coalition for Life Educational Trust, was held On March 25th, 2023 at Knights of Columbus, Joseph Barry Council in Hicksville.
Students in grades 11 and 12 were invited to research, write and deliver a 5-7 minute original speech on the life issues such as abortion, assisted suicide, euthanasia, or cloning/stem cell research.
The judges praised the excellent quality and fine presentations of the speeches, resulting in difficult judging!
The first place winner was Kathleen Hovestadt from St Pius V High School, 2nd Place winner was Elizabeth Halpin who attends Kellenberg Memorial High School, and 3rd Place was awarded to Olivia Hand who also attends St. Pius V. Prizes of $1000, $600 and two at $400, along with plaques were awarded to these excellent speakers.
Also participating were Nora Butler From Kellenberg, Nicholas Maisano who attends Chaminda High School, and Catherine Ryan who is homeschooled. All participants did a fine job and we sincerely thank them for their participation! Thanks also to their parents for supporting them in this worthwhile endeavor.
Robert L. Dougherty Esq. is the generous supporter who provided prize money for the contest. Judges were George Frost, Kathy Feldman and Fred Peritore.
Thanks to Sr Marie Chabanel and Sr. MaryAnn from St. Pius V, and Brother Michael Gillen from Kellenberg, who all encouraged/coordinated with students and attended the contest.
18TH ANNUAL ORATORY CONTEST SUMMARY
The Eighteenth Annual High School Oratory Contest, sponsored by the Long Island Coalition for Life Educational Trust, was held On March 26th, 2022 at Knights of Columbus, Joseph Barry Council in Hicksville.
Students in grades 11 and 12 were invited to research, write and deliver a 5-7 minute original speech on the life issues such as abortion, assisted suicide, euthanasia, or cloning/stem cell research.
The judges praised the excellent quality and fine presentations of the speeches, resulting in difficult judging!
The first place winner was Kathryn Gheckas, 2nd Place went to Margaret Fantz, while there was a tie for 3rd place between Angelina Stein and Deirdre Carroll. This year all the contestants came from St Pius. V High School in Melville and we sincerely thank them for their particpation!
Prizes of $500, $300 and $200 along with plaques were awarded to the top three speakers. Robert L. Dougherty Esq. is the generous supporter who provided most of the prize money for the contest. Judges were George Frost, Kathy Feldman and Eric Waxman.
Thanks to Sr Marie Chabanel and Sr. Bernadette from St. Pius V, whom encouraged/coordinated with students and attended the contest.
Thanks also to Dan Sherry, Charlie Feldman and Jack O’Brien for also attending and helping to make this a very successful event. It was so wonderful to hear the younger generation speaking up for LIFE!