Scholarships

Graduating high school seniors who plan to attend college.

Up to $10,000 is available to be awarded between the applicants, at the discretion of the judging committee.

• Students must submit a written copy of an original speech (5-10 minutes in length) on the topic “Unpacking the Gift of Life When it is Most Challenging.”
• Students must submit evidence of service hours logged in the cause of protecting human life.
• Students must submit one (1) recommendation letter describing individual commitment to some aspect of the DCRTL mission.

About the Topic: We firmly believe that Life — all Life — is a gift that should be celebrated, cherished, and protected in every stage and in every circumstance. It’s easy to see Life as a gift when those circumstances are going well, when they are filled with joy and happy memories. But what about when life is challenging or involves suffering? Students are encouraged to reflect on how life is still a gift, even when the beginning, middle, or end of that life is challenging. We encourage students to consider how we treat people with special needs, elderly patients nearing the end of life, or other circumstances the abortion industry often uses to justify abortion.

Finalists will be chosen on the quality of the written speech. If chosen as a finalist, the student must be available to participate in a speech presentation on Saturday, April 4th, 2026, from 9 AM-12 PM, at the DCRTL office, 2205 Carter Road, Dubuque, Iowa.

The Application, Written Speech, Log of Service Hours, and Recommendation Letter must be uploaded to the DCRTL website.

Submissions of the Application, Written Speech, Log of Service Hours, and Recommendation Letter are due by Monday, March 2, 2026, at 11:59pm CST.

Finalists will be notified of their status and are expected to participate in a presentation of speeches on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at the DCRTL office.