Teens For Life
Look here for exciting local events for students
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Call 231-946-9469
Student Calendar
Meet Wendy Fulton
Teens for Life Coordinator
We are blessed to have Wendy join us. She brings her years of experience working with youth to this position, having been a small group leader for youth, a Bible Club Host, and Homeschool Group Teacher. In addition to that, for the last 13 years she has homeschooled her own sons who are now 16 and 18. Wendy is passionate about equipping the youth of today with God's Truths, especially in the area of Prolife Apologetics. She is looking forward to seeing how the Lord will work in the coming year. Wendy is typically in the office from 10 - 2 on Mondays. She can always be reached at
Wendy, her husband of 19 years, Jon, and sons Caleb and Jacob are enjoying life in Beulah, along with their two dogs and 15 chickens.
2019 Baby of the Year
We had 4 contestants this year, which did not make it easy to choose a winner! At our 2019 Focus on Life Dinner the dinner guest all vote for our annual Baby of the year. These were our 4 contestants. They were all soooo CUTE!
We are so thankful for these beautiful lives! Our 2019 Baby of the year winner was Clarabelle Gooden! Congratulations Clarabelle!!
Clarabelle Gooden
A LITTLE MIRACLE
After almost 3 years and 2 miscarriages, little Clarabelle was born at 24 weeks and 6 days, weighing 1 lb 14 oz and measuring 12 inches. Her parents were told that she had less than 25% chance of making it past 72 hours. She spent 100 days at DeVos Children’s Hospital and amazed the staff with her progress. She continues to exceed all expectations and now is a healthy 14+ pounds and 24 inches. She’s mom and dad’s little miracle.
Past Events
This Area Well Represented in Washington DC at the 2019 National March for Life -
Students from St. Mary School Lake Leelanau and St. Francis High School Traverse City traveled to the nation's capitol to take part in the annual March for Life. A group led by Mary Lingaur, GTARTL Teens for Life Coordinator, traveled with the Gaylord area Right to Life group to the march. What an incredible experience - "The experience of a lifetime!" That's how taking part in this event is described by many. Take a look at the pictures below to get a feel for what they mean.
Students Lead 6th Annual Local March for Life
For the 6th consecutive year, the students at St. Mary's School in Lake Leelanau organized a local March for Life to coincide with the national march in Washington DC on January 18, 2019. A group of over 100 students, staff and community members marched from the statue of Mary at the School to the cemetery about a mile away. The representation was "From the womb (Mary) to the tomb (cemetery), signifying that all life is sacred. The were led by a banner reading "We are St. Mary - We are Pro-Life!" At the cemetery, Father Ben Rexroat (SM Alumni) led the group in prayers for all those affected by abortion and end of life issues. A post-march reception was held in the St. Mary social hall.
Students for Life March with
Down Syndrome Association in
Junior Royale Parade
Grand Traverse Area Students for Life showed their support for life in the National Cherry Fest Junior Royal Parade by marching along with the Down Syndrome unit.
Rori Richardson At National Oratory Contest
We were honored to have Rori Richardson represent us at the National Oratory Contest which took place on June 30 at the National Right to Life Convention in Kansas. Rori placed in the top six and gave her speech in the final round. Congratulations, Rori, on an outstanding run! You make us proud.
Rori Richardson Wins First Place in State Oratory Contest!
Smiles from the winners! Rori is on the left.
The Right to Life of Michigan 29th Annual High School Oratory contest was held on Saturday, May 5, in Holt. 18 contestants competed with speeches on a variety of topics and the winner was our own Rori Richardson, from Grand Traverse Area Right to Life. Rori spoke of promoting the dignity of human life through palliative care and a culture of love and how that is a better, life affirming alternative to euthanasia. Rori says of the contest, "All of the speakers did an incredible job and I felt very blessed to be evangelized by my peers and strengthened by their pro-life example."
Rori will represent Michigan in the National Right to Life Jane B. Thompson Oratory Contest on Saturday, June 30 in Overland Park, Kansas.
Read Rori's speech at the
Watch Rori give her speech here
2019 Legislative Day in Lansing!
On May 14, 2019 - Dana Olm, GT Area Right to Life Board President and Our Director of Operations, Mary C. Jackowski headed down to Legislative Day. A very BIG THANK YOU goes out to Pam Dunphey who took 6 of our Teens for Life Students down to the Right to Life of Michigan's Legislative day! The teens had a great day.
Special guest speakers included Mike Sherkey, Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate and Lee Chatfield, Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives.
We also heard from Genevieve Marnon, RLM Legislative Director, who caught us up and educated us on the petition drive to end dismemberment abortion.
There was a Q & A and all in all it was an amazing day!
Congratulations Rori Richardson-
Outstanding Prolife Youth Award winner for 2018!
Congratulations to Rori Richardson, the Grand Traverse Area Right to Life recipient of the 2018 Outstanding Prolife Youth Award!! Rori has been awarded a $250.00 scholarship and her application and essay have been forwarded to the Right to Life of Michigan office to enter her in the statewide competition. Winner of this award is selected on the basis of prolife activities and involvement, leadership and self-motivation, along with a 300-400 word essay describing what this generation can do to promote a positive prolife message.
Rori is a senior at St. Francis High School who plans to attend Benedictine College after graduation. She has been active in local prolife activities throughout high school. A member of Students for Life for four years and president for two years, she's been active in supply drives for the Pregnancy Care Center and praying outside Planned Parenthood on Fridays.
Rori has been involved with Grand Traverse Area Right to Life's Focus on Life Dinners and she volunteers at Single Mom Ministries. She says that her passion for defending life has been fueled by experiences like the National March for Life, Right to Life of Michigan's Legislative Day, our local Doctor Prescribed Suicide seminar and six years of participating in the local Life Chain.
Rori's essay emphasizes the importance of youth educating themselves about life issues and learning how to speak the truth to authority in order to be effective in political action; to joyfully serve those who are harmed by this culture of death; and to recognize without God we can accomplish nothing, and so the most important part of this mission is prayer. To quote Rori: "With our minds engaged through education, our voices raised in political appeal, our hands outstretched to those in need, and our hearts uplifted in prayer, this generation will spread the gospel of life."
2018 Oratory Contest Winners Announced!
Left to right: Olivia Schaub, Rori Richardson and Marie Krueger
2018 Oratory Contestants, left to right: Emma Badoul, Mary MacDonald, Olivia Schaub, Marie Krueger, Olivia Ludka, Thomas Grant, Alexandra Kirt, Grace Hearn, Gloriana Smith, Rori Richardson, and Seeda Riddell.
2018 Robert DeVol Memorial
Pro-Life Oratory Contest
St. Francis High School's St. Clare Chapel was the scene of the 2018 Robert DeVol Memorial Pro-Life Oratory Contest on the evening of March 20, 2018. Eleven local high school students participated in this year's event, filling the chapel to standing room only.
First place went to Rori Richardson, a senior at St. Francis High School. She won $250 and the honor of competing at the Right to Life of Michigan state-wide contest in Holt on May 5. Second place and a $150 prize went to Olivia Schaub, a sophomore at St. Mary's Lake Leelanau, and Marie Krueger , a junior at St. Francis took third place with a prize of $100.
In this annual event, students choose a pro-life topic, research it and then write and present a five to seven minute speech. The speech is rated for organization, content and presentation by a panel of judges. These ratings and comments are provided to each participant as valuable feedback after the contest. All of this year's participants received a pro-life t-shirt and a certificate of participation in addition to the excellent learning experience. The annual contest is open to all area pro-life high school students.
A big "Thank You" to everyone who gave of their time and talents to make this event possible.
New Students for Life Group at TC West High School
We are so excited! There is now a Students for Life group at TC West!! Started in November 2017, they already have eight members. They are spreading the truth about life to those who will listen and are looking to start a pro-life movement in their school. Pictured above are some of the group with President Michael Carley and Faculty Advisor, Mr. Dan Rosenburg. Way to go!
Student Membership
As a member of Grand Traverse Area Right to Life, you will receive timely communications about local projects and activities, information about the various opportunities for participation and support, state and national pro-life legislative developments, our local "News For Life" newsletter and the Right to Life of Michigan newspaper.
Join today!! Student Memberships are only $5 per year. Click here for your printable membership application.
Thank you for becoming a member of Grand Traverse Area Right to Life (GTARTL)!
