Homeschool senior student Cassidy Lichnovsky is the 2014 scholarship winner of the Montgomery County Right to Life Oratory Contest at Conroe Bible Church. She received a $1,000 check.

Second place winner was Erica Michelson, who received $500, and Madison McQuary and Chad Golden tied for third place, each receiving $250.

A total of 13 students participated Saturday by each writing and giving a 5-7 minute pro-life speech on abortion, eugenics, euthanasia or infanticide.

Junior and senior students represented Conroe High, Oak Ridge High, The Woodlands High and area homeschool groups.

Attorney Larry Foerster, Judge Michael Seiler, Judge Kathleen Hamilton, Joseph Strack, and Conroe Attorney Marcia Tillman served as judges for the contest.

Lichnovsky spoke about the false reality of abortion and the anguish her grandmother, Jean, went through when she was caught between the sound of her conscience and the voice of a doctor. Her grandmother was told that her child would be born with severe physical and possible mental disabilities and was admonished that she was selfish to bring a disabled child into the world. Her grandmother was pressured to abort her child.

However, Jean did give birth and her son, Joseph, was born with disabilities. However, Joseph, despite doctors predictions even after his birth, is now Cassidys father.

Her fathers reality is that he has never taken welfare and has sustained employment, gives to charities, supports missionaries, votes in every election, Cassidy said.

The world needs to see that a child, planned or not, is the farthest thing from a burden to society, Cassidy said.

She encouraged the audience that it is a lie that beauty can only be seen in perfection, where in reality our world needs imperfection and that in reality, every child has a right to life.

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Lichnovsky wins $1,000 MCRTL scholarship