The Laura Winters Stegen Post-Secondary Pro-Life Scholarship was instituted in 2011 by the Lethbridge and District Pro-Life Association in recognition of the leadership and many years of dedicated service of Laura Winters Stegen to the Pro-Life Movement at the local, provincial, and national levels.
Purpose of the Scholarship
To encourage young people to:
Learn more about the pro-life movement.
Reward involvement in pro-life activities.
Participate in voluntary activities in their school, college/university, church and/or community.
Become discerning of society’s values.
Value of the Scholarship
One thousand dollars ($1000) to be awarded to the winner.
Payment and certificate of recognition will be presented to the winner(s) at a predetermined time and location.
The Scholarship Contest Rules
Essay (75%)
2026 TOPIC: Strategic Renewal of the Pro-Life Movement in a Hostile Culture
The recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, who stood unapologetically for life and Biblical truth, has prompted many to ask how conviction can endure in an age of hostility. Today’s university campuses and broader culture often regard pro-life and faith-based principles as uneducated, intolerant, and even hateful. This environment discourages open dialogue, weakens moral confidence, and tempts many to retreat into silence.
Yet history - including Charlie’s example - shows that truth, when spoken with clarity and compassion, has the power to transform even the hardest hearts.
How can today’s pro-life movement strategically overcome apathy and cultural resistance in order to rebuild a moral consensus on the value of human life?
Your essay should:
Present concrete strategies—in advocacy, education, or policy—that can strengthen the movement’s influence and credibility.
Discuss the strategic value of your ideas, using reasoning or evidence to explain how they can be implemented effectively.
Identify obstacles or criticisms that may arise, and suggest thoughtful responses or remedies.
Demonstrate an understanding of the interconnected branches of the pro-life effort—such as education, community support, media engagement, and political action—and how they can work together to advance life-affirming change.
Frame your essay as a proposal for cultural and strategic renewal, rooted in intellectual honesty, moral courage, and faith-informed leadership.
Present your argument as a proposal in essay format. The essay must be the original and unaided work (no use of AI) of the student and must be 1500-2000 words typed, doubled-spaced, and have the title, name of the student and school on the title page. It must be well organized, demonstrate clarity, sensitivity, flow of thought, and present factual information with the appropriate documentation (cite all sources using APA, MLA, or Turabian [Chicago] style).
Self-Profile and References (25%)
a. Submit a self-profile (200-400 words) that describes your interest and involvement in pro-life activities and other voluntary activities.
b. Obtain one letter of reference. Your reference letter should be from someone who is not related to you and has observed or is aware of your involvement in pro-life activities (as stated in your self-profile). You can attach the reference here or they can email it directly to us at lethprolife@gmail.com.
Eligibility
The entrant must be:
A full-time student attending a post-secondary institution (does not have to be in Southern Alberta) and must have their home base in the administrative region of Lethbridge and District Pro-Life.
Administration of the Scholarship
A committee selected by the board of Lethbridge & District Pro-Life Association will administer the contest and constitute the panel of judges.
Entries will be judged after the deadline has passed and the winner will be notified.
Rights to Essays Submitted
Lethbridge and District Pro-Life Association retains the copyright to any essay submitted for the contest and the right to publish it for non-profit purposes. The author will be acknowledged in any publication or other use of the essay.
*While this form saves your work, we suggest you prepare your answers in a separate document and then paste them here to ensure you do not lose your work. Please email lethprolife@gmail.com with questions.