Joseph Riley from McMinn County Wins

Tennessee Right to Life’s Pro-Life Oratory Contest

Tennessee Right to Life’s Contest Among Nation’s Largest

Tennessee Right to Life held its 8^th annual Pro-Life Oratory Contest on Saturday, May 5^th at Aquinas College in Nashville.  Joseph Riley, a sophomore from Etowah, placed first in the contest and will attend the annual National Right to Life Oratory Contest to be held during the National Right to Life Convention in Kansas City, MO in June. Due to participant age requirements at the national level, second place finisher Laura Morel, a junior from Thompson Station, will represent Tennessee at the National Contest.

"It was a great encouragement for me to hear those kids and to know their hearts are for life," stated contest judge Randy Uselton.  Mr. Uselton is the Nashville Area Manager for contest financial and in-kind sponsor Bott Radio Network. 

More than 115 public, private, and home schooled students in grades 9-12 participated in 27 local contests across Tennessee.  The participants were required to write an original five to seven minute speech on abortion, infanticide, embryonic stem cell research, or euthanasia using factual and current information.

Mr. Riley, who won the McMinn County Right to Life Oratory Contest on April 9th, received $500 for first place and will have the opportunity either to attend the National Right to Life Convention or the National Teens for Life Convention, which runs concurrently.   Laura Morel, the second place winner, received a $250 award and will also attend the NRLC Convention.  Heather Bork received a $100 scholarship for third place, and Micah Rentschler received a $50 scholarship as the fourth place winner. 

Sponsoring organization Aquinas College hosted the event for the fifth year in a row and provided $5,000 in scholarships for the finalists.  Sr. Thomas Aquinas, president of the college, made opening remarks and served as a judge.  Lifeway Christian Resources, in addition to its financial sponsorship, provided valuable educational resources to participants and their families.  Lifeway’s representative, Stephanie Huffman, and Bott Radio’s representative, Randy Uselton, served as judges in the contest.  Christian Communications of Tennessee, Ed and Susan Mackey, and the Dale/Rodgers Family Foundation also sponsored the contest. 

“This is my third year as a judge and each year, I am impressed with the quality of the preparation on behalf of the students,” Tennessee Right to Life State Board member Lynn Chaffin said.  “They address difficult topics with intelligence and wit.”

“All of the students did so well,” stated Stormy Mitchell, President of The Mitchell Group, a Christian Speakers and Artist Booking Agency. “(The judges) had a tough decision in trying to rank so many well-written speeches.  We congratulate the winners and look forward to next year’s competition.” 

TRL State Oratory Contest 2007 State Finalists and Contest Sponsors Contestants: (not in order) Tiffany Baisden; Heather Borck; Caleb Cagle; Caitlin Cole; Caitlin Dye; Kimberly Garrett; Taylor Gore; Hannah Hempstead; Sarah Houck; Jordan Jones; Scott Kahler; Katie McEntire; Laura Morel; Jesse Pitts; Trisha Poole; Micah Rentschler; Joseph Riley; Hayley Rymer; Daniel Sherrouse; Samantha Simpson; Jennie Slaton; Jacob Smith; Clarissa Stewart; Abigail Sutherland; David Webster; Bethany Wilson; Natalie Wolfe Sponsors:  Christian Communicators of Tennessee (Dave Renschler); Lifeway Christian Resources (Stephanie Huffman); Aquinas College (Sr. Thomas Aquinas) Bott Radio Network (Randy Uselton) (not pictured: Ed & Susan Mackey, Dale Rogers Family Foundation)

TRL State Oratory Contest  2007 Winners (l-r)  Joseph Riley, McMinn County Micah Rentschler, Lewis County Heather Borck, Smith County Laura Morel, Williamson County

TRL State Oratory Contest Judges Row 1:  Chris Chapman, Southern Baptist Convention; Lynn Chaffin, TRL Board Member; Sister Thomas Aquinas, President, Aquinas College; Stormy Mitchell, President, The Mitchell Group; Matthew White, Political Consultant; Randy Uselton, Bott Radio Network  Row 2:  Michael Alfred, Christ Church Nashville; Michael Whittington, Antioch Church of Christ; Maureen O’Brien, President MO Illustrations and designer of TN Choose Life specialty plate; Stephanie Huffman; Lifeway Christian Resources; Dr. Gary Henecke, Professor, Trevecca Nazarene University and Pastor, Nashville First Church of the Nazarene; Alice Bolster, Registered Nurse.  (not pictured:  Councilwoman Carolyn Baldwin Tucker)

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