Since 1979, the Respect Life Apostolate (RLA) and archdiocesan Office of Education and Formation has sponsored an annual writing competition for eighth grade students in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
About the Contest
The contest gives eighth grade students an opportunity to reflect, pray, research and write about the Gospel of Life including how to build a Culture of Life, the virtue of chastity, how to prevent abortion, walking with pregnant and parenting moms in their community, etc. Each year, the Archdiocese of St. Louis receives hundreds of entries from students from Catholic day schools, PRS programs, and Catholic home schools. Finalists and scholarship winners are honored at a spring archdiocesan awards ceremony, at the annual Respect Life Convention and by their own parish/school community.
The 2023 contest is open from February 1 through March 15. Applications and guidelines are now available from your parish religious educator director/coordinator, Catholic school or Catholic home school association/co-op through which students enter the contest. Archdiocesan finalists, chosen from the local parish, Catholic school, or home school association/co-op entries, will be announced around April 1.
Archdiocesan finalists will then be invited and recognized at a special Awards Luncheon with Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski and/or his representative on April 19. The youth event and scholarship winners will be announced at the Awards Luncheon. To learn more, please contact the RLA at [email protected] or 314.792.7559.
Contest Scholarships & Awards
Students compete for finalist prizes, awards to the annual Steubenville St. Louis Mid-American Catholic Youth Conference in July, Generation Life Day in January in St. Louis, and scholarships towards their freshman year tuition at a Catholic high school.
- Bishop Edward J. O'Donnell Scholarship
- Mary Forrestal Hennessey Scholarship
- Mr. and Mrs. George Kletzker Scholarship
- Knights of Columbus Missouri State Council Scholarship
- Respect Life Apostolate Scholarship
The Bishop O’Donnell and Forrestal Hennessey scholarships were founded in the 1970s to encourage students to examine the facts regarding abortion and chastity, and especially how these issues impact their own lives. The Kletzker, Knights of Columbus (2014), and Respect Life Apostolate (2020) scholarships were established more recently with the same intention.
2022 Scholarship Winners & Essays
Click on the individual's name to read the winning essay (PDF file).
Scholarship Winners
- Bishop Edward J. O'Donnell Scholarship: Henry R (St. Clement of Rome Parish & School) will be attending De Smet Jesuit High School
- Mary Forrestal Hennessey Scholarship: George V (St. Francis Borgia Parish School of Religion) will be attending St. Francis Borgia Regional High School
- Mr. and Mrs. George Kletzker Scholarship: Isaac A (St. Frances Cabrini Academy/St. Cecilia Parish) will be attending St. Louis University High School
- Knights of Columbus Missouri State Council Scholarship: Isabella H (Holy Infant Parish & School), will be attending St. Joseph Academy
- Respect Life Apostolate Scholarship: Sera J S (The St. Austin School/Oratory of Ss. Gregory & Augustine) will be attending Cor Jesu Academy
Generation Life Pilgrimage/Steubenville Youth Conference Winners
- Veronica G (St. Gianna Parish) will be attending the Griesbauer Home School
- Maura N (St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish) will be attending Seton Home Study School
- Chidube N (Holy Infant Parish & School) will be attending St. Louis University High School
- Josie O (St. Gerard Majella Parish & School), will be attending Cor Jesu Academy
- John S (St. Paul Parish & School [St. Paul]), will be attending St. Dominic High School
Congratulations to the 25 Archdiocesan Finalists of the 2022 contest who were recognized at the April 21 Awards Dinner.
2021 Scholarship Winners & Essays
Click on the individual's name to read the winning essay (PDF file).
- Bishop Edward O'Donnell Scholarship: Lily H (Holy Infant) will be attending St. Joseph Academy
- Mr. & Mrs. George Kletzker Scholarships:
- Avery E (Ascension - Chesterfield) will be attending St. Joseph Academy
- William O (Ascension - Chesterfield) will be attending De Smet Jesuit High School
- Respect Life Apostolate Scholarship: Bella E (St. Alban Roe) will be attending St. Joseph Academy
