The Right to Life of Michigan Educational Fund awards a $500 scholarship in the spring to one pro-life high school senior. Selection criteria include a 400-500 word essay on a given prompt. Candidates are nominated by their local RLM affiliates. For more information, contact your local Right to Life of Michigan affiliate, or State Contest Coordinator, Whittney Dominguez, at (616) 532-2300 or [email protected].
2026 Contest Winner
It is with great admiration and heartfelt pride that we announce Claire Meulenberg of Grand Rapids Right to Life as the recipient of this year’s Senior Pro-life Essay Scholarship. Claire’s achievement is more than a personal milestone; it reflects the values we hold as a community. Her thoughtful and courageous voice reminds us of the importance of standing firm in our beliefs and advocating for the dignity and value of every human life! As a community, we celebrate her as a student of excellence and a young leader whose integrity and passion set an inspiring example for her peers.
Claire’s Essay:
“I was raised among the values of the pro-life movement and the belief that every human life has inherent worth. Conversations about abortion were regular in my home, my church, and within my Christian community. My family and I regularly donated to Alpha Women’s Center, and my mom works faithfully at our local Pregnancy Resource Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. So consequently, the idea of unplanned pregnancy was not an abstract concept in our household, but a topic discussed with compassion and urgency. I spent countless hours alongside my mom, volunteering and supporting the mission these centers fought for. From a young age, I believed I understood the weight of the pro-life movement and confidently called myself pro-life. However, it was not until later that I truly grasped the depth and reality of what I had been advocating for.
That understanding came during my junior year of high school, when one of my closest friends discovered she was pregnant at seventeen years old. In our small, private Christian school, the news spread quickly. Opinions echoed through the hallways, and one question seemed to follow her everywhere: Would she keep the baby? Hearing that question forced me to confront the reality of the cause I had supported my entire life. I remember thinking, Of course she will keep the baby. I knew her strength, her resilience, and her heart. Yet in that moment, I realized that being pro-life was no longer about a belief I inherited, rather, it was about actively standing beside my close friend during the most vulnerable season of her life. I truly grasped what I was advocating for.
Walking alongside my friend during her unplanned pregnancy changed me. I learned what it meant to advocate not just with words, but with presence, empathy, and unwavering support. I watched her courage unfold as a young mom who faced uncertainty, fear, and judgment, and I felt a deeper responsibility to defend both her and her child. Nine months later, she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. Seeing him, I finally understood who I had been advocating for all along. He is a living reminder that every life is made in the image of God, regardless of the circumstances. What mattered most was not how he entered this world, but how deeply he is loved.
This experience transformed my view on what it means to be pro-life. It strengthened my compassion and daily it shapes how I approach my leadership in this movement. It taught me that true pro-life work extends beyond simply believing in the cause, but it requires action and a willingness to walk alongside others with grace. As I look toward my future goals, I plan on continuing to advocate for women, like my friend. I will be attending Samford University in order to pursue a degree in Political Science. It’s through this career path that I will be able to advocate for more moms and unborn children on the national level. I aspire to obtain my friend’s strength and courage as I walk on this journey.”
The Award
The Right to Life of Michigan Educational Fund will award a non-renewable $500 scholarship to one pro-life high school senior in Michigan. The award may be used towards tuition, books, and/or college supplies.
Eligibility
Any Michigan student who is a high school senior for the Fall, or Winter/Spring semesters of the 2025/2026 school year.
Selection
Selection criteria include the student’s application and the essay. Applications and essays will be judged by each Right to Life of Michigan affiliate, and then one student from each affiliate will be nominated to a state committee for consideration. Affiliates must send the chosen application and essay to the State Office, and it must be postmarked no later than Friday, May 1, 2026. The winner will be selected by the state committee. An excerpt of the winning essay will appear in the Right to Life of Michigan News and on our website, rtl.org.
Requirements
400-500 words
Prompt: Reflect on how your character has grown as a young advocate for Life. The Other Choice. How has supporting and empowering women to make a choice for life shaped your outlook and future goals?
All applications and essays must be submitted to the local affiliate. If you are unsure of your local affiliate, contact the state office at [email protected].