As the 2024-2025 academic year comes to a close, Students for Life of America (SFLA) will be awarding several outstanding Students for Life groups with Best New Group, Best High School Group, Best College Group, and Best Standing With You (SWY) Group distinctions – and you get to help us choose which groups deserve these awards! Newman Central Catholic High School LIFE Club has been nominated for the best New Group of the Year Award.  

The winning group from each category, selected by the Pro-Life Generation (PLG), will receive a certificate, a shoutout on our national social media accounts, and a $300 donation to help expand the group’s efforts further next school year. 

About the Group  

Newman Central Catholic High School LIFE Club was established in 2024 and has nearly 50 active members. This year, the group hosted monthly events on campus and in the community, including leading a group at the Illinois Pro-Life March and organizing daily prayer in the school chapel for all of Lent as part of the Aurora, Illinois 40 Days for Life Campaign. They grew their group to include nearly 25% of the school population!    

They have been nominated for the best New Group of the Year for garnering support and engagement throughout the school in multiple pillars through classroom training, work with the local PHC, and educating voters on the importance of voting pro-life during the 2024-2025 academic year!    

[VOTE HERE FOR NEWMAN CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL LIFE CLUB]  

Groups qualify for the New Group of the Year award for going above and beyond in the Five Pillars of Pro-Life Activism in the 2024-2025 academic year and if they were founded between January 2024 – January 2025.  

Read about their accomplishments below to decide if they will receive your vote.  

Newman Central Catholic High School LIFE Club’s Top Accomplishments in the 2024-2025 Academic Year  

Supporting Pregnancy Resource Centers and Appointing a Pregnancy Center Coordinator  

After several item drives on campus and in the community to support various Pregnancy Help Centers (PHCs) in the greater Stirling, IL area, the Newman Central Catholic LIFE Club decided to take their supportive efforts to the next level! The group appointed a student as their designated Pregnancy Center Coordinator to correspond with local life-affirming centers regularly. Thanks to this appointment, the group works year-round with these centers to aid them and all their efforts to make the choice of Life easier for local young women in need of support.

Calling Campaign to Defund Planned Parenthood  

The moment the Newman Central Catholic group heard there was an opportunity for us to cut taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood, the group sprang into action. The officers began letting all group members know about this unique opportunity. They immediately called the offices of the legislators of the budget and finance committees to encourage them to cut taxpayer funding of the abortion industry. In addition to calling their legislators, they also participated in the state-wide Defund Planned Parenthood Life Chain. This group is the embodiment of what it means to lead the charge to end abortion in our lifetime!  

Recruiting 25% of the Campus to Join Their Pro-Life Group 

Over the school year and through various efforts, the Newman Central LIFE Club leaders managed to get more than 25% of all students to join their group. Through hosting classroom trainings on the importance of defending Life, tabling on various pro-life topics, and attending both the local and national Pro-Life Marches, the group has captured the attention and hearts of so many young students passionate about making a difference in their community. 

COMING SOON IN 2025-2026…  

Newman Central Catholic High School LIFE Club hopes to continue their leadership on campus by educating their peers on the life issue and serving PHCs in the greater Stirling area more regularly during the 2025-2026 academic year. Since much of the campus is now involved in the group, the group is prepared to dive into deeper topics, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), in the classroom. With a brand-new Pregnancy Center Coordinator appointed, the group can support the local centers however they need it throughout the year!