$500.00 Scholarship ‐ Will Eilermann
$250.00 Scholarship ‐ Penelope Alcott
Their winning essays are below:

Will Eilermann
Pro‐Life Essay

When you think about being pro‐life and what it means to you, most people think that it is wrong, or it’s right. I feel like this situation can be summed up with a riddle I heard once.  The riddle was about choosing a leader. There are three choices. Candidate A is a man who is associated with crooked politicians, has had two mistresses, and drinks eight to ten martinis a day. Candidate B is a man who was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon, used opium in college, and drinks a bottle of whiskey every evening. Finally, Candidate C is a decorated war hero who is a vegetarian and doesn’t smoke, drinks as little as an occasional beer, and has never committed adultery. If you haven’t heard this riddle before, you likely selected Candidate C as your leader because he has his act together. Ready for the answers? Candidate A is Franklin D Roosevelt, Candidate B is Winston Churchill, and your likely choice, Candidate C, is none other than Adolf Hitler. All of these statements about these men are true, yet they do not affect them in the way you would think. I see a connection between this riddle and the idea of abortion. On paper, abortion makes sense. It has all kinds of benefits, but in the wrong places. Like Candidate C, abortion is not what it seems. The thing is, people who support abortion would be like sticking with Candidate C because of how great it sounds. They don’t see a dead baby. But, science tells us that life starts at conception, not birth. A baby will never see the light of day, and you’re taking that baby’s chance at life and their accomplishments. Out of the 62 million babies that have been aborted since 1973, there are countless possibilities for what those people could have become (AP News).  Who knows where we could be if we still had these people?  Sadly, now all we can do is imagine.  As a 14‐year‐old in St. Louis Missouri, there is only so much I can do to help. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t anything I can do. I can pray. I can protest. And in my own way, I can be the difference. I can help people realize what it is. I can tell others how evil abortions are. There are chances for me to help stop what ended innocent opportunities. Just like Ronald Reagan said, “I’ve noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born.” (Good Reads) Being born, and given that chance, I can defend those who weren’t.

Penelope Alcott
Pro‐Life Essay

“Human life is sacred and...the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society… Nations must protect the right to life by finding increasingly effective ways to prevent conflicts and resolve them by peaceful means” (usccb.org). Homelessness in veterans is one of these conflicts that we can help to resolve. It occurs mainly because veterans cannot find jobs, a stable income, or have co‐occurring disorders (nchv.org). In order to help solve these issues, we can find ways to mentally and financially support our veterans. We can mentally support our veterans in many ways, one being to donate to a nonprofit organization.  “Give an Hour” is a nonprofit that has a volunteer group of professionals that provide mental health care to veterans and their families. Another way to help veterans’ mental health is to show that you care. Making care packages, cards, or even praying a rosary are all things that I can do to help out. Another way to help is to contact a local veterans assistance program. They can put you in contact with veterans who need help with daily chores such as mowing the lawn or going grocery shopping. Even small things like thanking a veteran can mean a lot.  Another way to solve this problem is to help financially support veterans. We can do this by supporting businesses that hire veterans. “EcoVet” employs veterans and teaches them the skills to make beautiful furniture and express themselves.  These veterans also earn wages. “Homes for our Troops” is another organization that donates custom homes to disabled veterans.  Try to donate to foundations like these, even if you do not have a large amount of money; it all adds up. Although it’s not directly providing funds to veterans, keeping packages of toiletries in your car to give to people on the street can make a big difference to someone.  In conclusion, we can help keep veterans off the streets by helping to provide them with mental and financial support.  “No deed is small when done for Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:27), and I know that even I can make a difference.