College student Lydia Heykamp started a Right to Life club at Portland Community College in 2018. A few years later, she helped restart the pro-life club at Patrick Henry College in northern Virginia.
Those actions certainly sound like those of a go-getter — but Heykamp, now 24 years old and living in Grove City, Pennsylvania, gives the credit to two parties: her mother and Oregon Right to Life Education Foundation’s annual student contests. She won their oratory competition in 2017 as a 17-year-old.
“I doubt I would have entered the oratory competition without my mother’s encouragement,” says Heykamp, a former St. Helens resident. “I have always held strong convictions on pro-life issues, but the idea of speaking publicly in a competitive environment was overwhelming.”
The ORTLEF contest, with divisions for oratory, drawing, short film and essay competitions, forever changed Heykamp’s perception of sharing her pro-life beliefs. Her confidence noticeably increased, especially after she finished in the top six at the National Right to Life oratory competition.
“Through the experience, I connected with pro-life peers who offered encouragement and support both during the competition and in the years that followed,” Heykamp says. “Additionally, the interest from friends and family in my involvement — many of whom did not share my pro-life convictions — sparked meaningful conversations on issues we might not have otherwise discussed. Through these conversations, more than one heart was changed.”
Heykamp’s own heart has been heavily shaped by her youngest sister Evangeline, a 10-year-old with Down syndrome. Heykamp calls Evangeline her biggest inspiration, especially when advocating for the unborn.
“I cannot imagine my life without Evie in it, and my heart breaks for the millions of people around the world who will never know the joy of having a sister, brother, cousin, child or grandchild with Down syndrome because their lives were cut short by abortion,” she says. “It is my prayer that this generation will witness a time when abortion is not only illegal, but unthinkable.”
It’s why Heykamp now works at Promise of Life Network, a pregnancy center in western Pennsylvania, as both their volunteer coordinator and presenter for their abstinence program. And it’s why she encourages any young pro-life Oregonian, from kindergarteners to young adults, to use their talents in the 2025 ORTLEF student contests.
“This contest challenges you to reflect deeply on what you believe and why you believe it,” she says. “It is more than just a competition; it is a chance for young people to engage with our nation’s most important issues and receive meaningful feedback from Oregon’s pro-life leaders.”
“The impact this competition had on my life, and the lasting impact it will have on others, is invaluable.”
To learn more about ORTLEF’s student contests, click here.
