McEldowney Wins 2010 Speech Contest
With a clever introduction and verbal illustrations drawn from personal experience helping teens in crisis pregnancies, Chloe McEldowney, a senior at Russia High School, received top honors for her speech at the Pro-Life Oratory Contest sponsored by Right to Life of Shelby County on Thursday, February 25 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sidney.
Nine juniors and seniors participated in the contest, speaking on topics ranging from the biological beginning of human life at conception to unjustifiable decisions to hasten or cause the death of an adult through euthanasia. One contestant identified commonalities between proponents of abortion and of slavery in their disregard for the rights and autonomy of the human person.
Last year’s contest winner, Elizabeth Trisler, went on to win at the state and national levels. In April, McEldowney will follow in Trisler’s footsteps to the statewide Ohio Pro-Life Oratory Contest, in Westerville, Ohio with the chance to proceed to the national contest in June. In McEldowney’s exhortation, she admitted that helping people make life-affirming choices often requires enduring opposition and trials, which, at times, is like enduring a terrible stench, but she affirmed, “I am so happy that my family and I are able to reach out and help each of these young mothers and their babies. There is no stench in this world that would make me want to stop supporting life in this way.”
“I was very impressed with all of the speeches,” stated contest coordinator Anne Schmiesing. “With the number of pro-life young people growing, there is hope that abortion can be abolished, just as slavery has been, though it may not happen overnight.”
Runner-up in the competition was Botkins High School senior, Jean Goettemoeller, and in third place was Sarah Trisler, a homeschooled junior from Sidney. First through third place prizes were $300, $150 and $100. Also competing were Cody Blust and Tadd Martin of Christian Academy; Sarah Hipple, Taylor Thompson and Paul Trygstad of Sidney High School and Allison Ulbrich, of Lehman Catholic High School. Judges were State Representative John Adams and area teachers, Amy Gleason (Sidney High School) and Henry Cordonnier (Lehman Catholic).
More about past contests follows below...
National Champion!
Shelby County's Elizabeth Trisler took first place in the National Right to Life Oratory Contest in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday, June 20, 2009. Winner of Right to Life of Shelby County's oratory contest in February, Trisler went on to win the state-level Ohio Right to Life competition in April. She received an all expense paid trip to North Carolina to compete at the national level. Two-time winner of both the local and state contests, Trisler finished in the top ten in the national competition last year.
"On behalf of all the Ohio Right to Life Board of Trustees, our Chapters and our Pro-Life youth, I want to sincerely thank Elizabeth for her accomplishments and steadfast advocacy for Life," said Mike Gonidakis, Executive Director of Ohio Right to Life. "She certainly is a young role model and a shining example of the countless number of pro-life teenagers in the great state of Ohio," said Gonidakis.
The competition consisted of three rounds as the field of nineteen state winners was gradually narrowed down. As champion, Trisler receives a cash prize of $1000.
RTL co-director Anne Schmiesing praised Trisler's dedication. "She has extraordinary natural talent and has worked very hard on her speech. Most importantly, she is passionate about this issue and about promoting the pro-life message to her peers."
The daughter of Lee and Sandi Trisler of Sidney, Elizabeth is a homeschooled senior in high school. She was accompanied to the national contest by her mother. Sandi stressed the spiritual dimension of the competition. "Elizabeth prayed the whole time that God’s will would be done. Of course she wanted to do her absolute best on the speech. But she also prayed that the speech that God wanted to win would win." She was also struck by the supportive environment of such a high-level competition. "The support the kids gave each other was just terrific; I was impressed by the integrity and maturity of these students. It gives hope for the future of this country!"
Elizabeth Trisler is willing to deliver her award-winning speech to local organizations, schools, or church groups. To arrange a presentation, please contact RTL at 498-1812
Trisler Repeats as Ohio RTL Oratory Winner, To Compete at National Event
(Columbus, OH) On Saturday, April 25th, Elizabeth Trisler of Shelby County Right to Life won the 2009 Ohio Right to Life Oratory Contest and will compete at the National Right to Life Oratory Contest, held this summer in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Ohio Right to Life contest, co-sponsored by the Otterbein Students for Life, was held on the campus of Otterbein University.
“We are very proud of Elizabeth and all the participants in this year’s oratory contest,” stated Mike Gonidakis, President of Ohio Right to Life. “The students did an outstanding job and we couldn’t be happier with the hard work and determination of not only the students, but their parents and local chapters as well,” stated Gonidakis. The judges for the 2009 Oratory Contest included, Tracie Johnson, Chairman of Ohio Right to Life, Professor Keith Miller (retired) of Capital University, Monica Mack, Director of Kinder Women’s Care Center, and Nathaniel Bean, the Vice-President of Otterbein Students for Life.
The eleven eligible high school juniors and seniors, each of whom won their local Right to Life Chapter contest, wrote an original speech on abortion, embryonic stem cell research, infanticide, or euthanasia. “The issue of the sanctity of life is one that is at the forefront of public debate,” continued Gonidakis. “Today’s teens are tomorrow’s public officials and pro-life leaders. Ohio Right to Life will continue to provide every opportunity to encourage our youth to establish the skills needed to communicate the Pro-Life message in a positive way. This was a great opportunity to hone their public speaking skills and meet other pro-life students,” stated Gonidakis.
As the winner of the state competition, Elizabeth and a guest will receive an all-expense paid trip to the National Oratory Contest on June 20, 2009. The winner of the national contest will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
Ohio Right to Life Press Release, April 28, 2009
Trisler Repeats as Oratory Champion
Elizabeth Trisler, two-time winner of the Right to Life of Shelby County Oratory Contest, will be competing at the annual Ohio Pro-Life Oratory Contest, sponsored by the Center for Life and Hope, to be held on Saturday, April 25, 2009 in Westerville, Ohio.
“We are very proud of Miss Trisler. Last year she represented Shelby County very well, winning the state contest and advancing to the top 10 in the national contest. We wish her the best as she continues to compete this year,” stated Anne Schmiesing, Right to Life co-director and coordinator of the event. “Each of the contestants prepared a well organized, articulate, convincing speech."
The contest--open to high school juniors and seniors—required competitors to research, write and present an original pro-life speech on abortion, infanticide, euthanasia/assisted- suicide or embryonic stem cell research, to be five to seven minutes in duration. The competition was held Saturday, February 14, 2009 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, in Sidney. The orators were judged on presentation, organization and content: including use of current and accurate facts, and affirmation of the value of human life in all stages of development. Judging the competition were Amy Gleason, a speech and communications teacher at Sidney High School; Henry Cordonnier, a Lehman Catholic High School religion teacher; and Ohio State Representative, John Adams.
Trisler received stiff competition from the runner-up, Paul Trygstad, a junior from Sidney. Both received cash prizes. Trisler is slated to participate in the state competition, where the winner will receive an all-expense-paid trip to the National Right to Life Oratory Contest to be held at the National Right to Life Convention in Arlington, Virginia, June 20, 2009.
"This contest is a wonderful learning experience for these students. Their affirmation of the intrinsic value of all human life will positively impact society and individuals struggling to respect life,”said Schmiesing.