MADISON — On January 25, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Washington, D.C., for the annual March for Life marking the 40th anniversary of the historic Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion through all nine months of pregnancy.
St. Ambrose Academy juniors and seniors were among the throngs of pro-lifers. Several St. Ambrose marchers also were recent winners of the Knights of Columbus Respect for Life Contest at the diocesan and state levels.
Ron Faust, state treasurer of the Knights of Columbus, shared the list of the local winners as announced by State Respect for Life Coordinator Mark Kohls after the essay judging wrapped up at the state level this month. Diocesan winners from St. Ambrose Academy included:
- Justin Hineline (second place, eighth grade)
- John Quinones (first place, ninth grade)
- Maria Schiedermayer (first place, 10th grade)
- Alie Neumaier (first place, 11th grade)
- Mary Duhn (first place, 12th grade).
Hineline, Neumaier, and Duhn went on to win first place at the state level; Maria won second place at the state level. Faust commented, “St. Ambrose students really understand the pro-life issue and the dignity of human life, so it is no surprise that these students placed so well in the essay contest.”
Dr. Constance Nielsen helped coordinate the essay contest from the school’s end. “We are very proud of our students’ ability to articulate our Catholic conviction that every life has value and that each child is made in God’s image and likeness.”
These St. Ambrose students will receive recognition at their local Knights of Columbus councils. St. Ambrose extends its thanks to the Knights of Columbus for this wonderful program and the organization’s pro-life witness.