Pro-life essay winners announced

Students from Catholic schools, parish religious education and home school programs are among the five winners of the annual Pro-Life Essay Contest, sponsored by the Respect Life Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Omaha.

Open to seventh-graders through juniors in high school and this year featuring a theme of the dignity found in people with disabilities and the "love in action" that can be expressed in helping those who are struggling, the contest drew entries from 74 students.

First-place winners in three grades were from Omaha: Laura Tooley, seventh grade, St. Vincent de Paul School and a member of St. Vincent de Paul Parish; Lily Yates, eighth grade, St. Wenceslaus School and a member of St. Wenceslaus Parish; and Ellie Koch, ninth grade, home school and a member of St. Peter Parish.

Additional winners were Gabby Middendorf, a sophomore at Columbus High School and a member of St. Isidore Parish in Columbus; and Taylor Schumacher, a junior at Pope John XXIII Central Catholic Junior/Senior High School in Elgin and a member of St. John the Baptist Church in Petersburg.

The top three winners in each class won prizes of $40, $30 and $20. The contest is financially supported by the state council of the Knights of Columbus.

The winning essays will be entered in the state contest with winners from the dioceses of Grand Island and Lincoln. Statewide winners will be announced this fall at the Bishops’ Pro-Life Conference.

To read the winning essays, click here.