Osage County night at Busch Stadium

Vitae Foundation essay contest winners announced

Posted 8/10/22

Vitae Foundation announced the grand-prize winners Osage County Essay Contest on Life Issues are Fatima sophomore Megan Kliethermes and St. Joseph Catholic School (Westphalia) eighth-grader Kaylee …

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Osage County night at Busch Stadium

Vitae Foundation essay contest winners announced

Posted

Vitae Foundation announced the grand-prize winners Osage County Essay Contest on Life Issues are Fatima sophomore Megan Kliethermes and St. Joseph Catholic School (Westphalia) eighth-grader Kaylee Juergensmeyer.

“Given the recent overturn of Roe v Wade, students are already talking about this issue,” said Vitae Senior Market Director Stacey Kromer, noting the essay contest was launched to encourage students to take a stand on life issues such as abortion, bullying, elderly and child abuse, etc. “I am thankful that the essay contest gave them a platform to discuss not only abortion but other relevant and important life issues.”

Kliethermes and Juergensmeyer threw a ceremonial opening pitch during Osage County Night at the Ballpark on Aug. 4 at a Cubs vs. Cardinals game at Busch Stadium. Juergensmeyer’s teacher, Megan Markway, also threw a pitch.

Students with the winning essay in their class received four first-base field box tickets, including Ben Berhorst, seventh and eighth grades at Holy Family (Freeburg), Andrew Muenks, eighth grade at Immaculate Conception (Loose Creek), Adyson Brown, seventh grade and Carson Shockley eighth grade, both at Linn R-2, Peighton Kremer, eighth grade, Parker Berhorst, ninth grade, and Elise Bax, 12th grade, all at Fatima, Roland Nivens, seventh grade at Sacred Heart (Rich Fountain), Maggie Kloeppel, seventh grade at St. Joseph Catholic School, and Ali Russell (grand prize winner alternate), seventh grade, and Elizabeth Sprenger, eighth grade, both at St. George Catholic School (Linn).

The first 125 students who submitted a qualifying essay received four tickets to Osage County Night at the Ballpark. Vitae also entered each participating student into a drawing to win a $250 gift card to be used for an electronic item (iPad or laptop) to assist with their education. This year’s winner was Grace Borgmeyer, Immaculate Conception (Loose Creek). The teachers of participating classes were entered into a similar drawing for a $100 gift card provided by Vitae. This year’s winner was Stacia Schollmeyer at Fatima. The teacher with the most submissions was Brandi Moore at Linn R-2.

The contest was made possible due to a generous grant awarded to Vitae Foundation from the Alphonse J. Schwartze Community Foundation which provided an opportunity to spread its message of life to the “Cardinals Nation.” This grant has been awarded to Vitae Foundation for 15 years.

Vitae Foundation is a national non-profit organization that leads the world in its research of abortion-decision making, tests its findings using digital media campaigns, and shares best practices at no cost to pro-life peers worldwide to encourage a culture of life. Vitae’s presence in the mid-Missouri media market includes Meet Life efforts, Google Ads (Paid Google search), website development, and Search Engine Optimization. Vitae ads run on 1400 AM KFRU, 94.3 FM KATI and all St. Louis Cardinals Radio Network stations, and on the Missouri Tiger Radio Network during football games.