This year, our Students for Life chapter at St. Paul’s Newman Center focused on creating a stronger Culture of Life on the North Dakota State University campus through service, advocacy, education, and leadership. By putting the Five Pillars of Pro-Life Activism into action, we were able to involve students in meaningful ways while also supporting mothers and babies in our local community. From prayer vigils to donation drives and public policy initiatives, our goal was to make an impact both on campus and beyond it.

In the fall, we focused heavily on rapid response and industry impact initiatives. At the end of September, Life Runners came to Fargo for their northern kickoff event, walking 2.7 miles to the abortion facility in Moorhead. I got to organize a group from the Newman Center to participate, giving us the opportunity to publicly witness to the dignity of Life through prayer and peaceful presence. For many students, it was their first time participating in something like this, and it encouraged them to become more involved in pro-life advocacy throughout the year.

On October 22, 2025, our chapter participated in the 40 Days for Life campaign by covering a full 12-hour day of prayer outside the abortion clinic in Moorhead, Minnesota. I got to coordinate over 50 students to fill time slots from 7AM to 7PM, making sure there was always someone present in prayer and witness throughout the “abortion day” outside the Abortion clinic. Organizing that many students took a lot of communication and planning, but it was encouraging to see how willing students were to give their time for something they cared deeply about.

Our chapter also focused on effective education and supportive services through more community-centered events. On November 5, I got to host “Tie-Dye for Life,” where students tie-dyed baby onesies in exchange for donating baby items or giving a small financial donation toward our baby drive. During the event, we played Live Action’s “Baby Olivia” video to help educate students on fetal development and spark conversations about the humanity of preborn babies. The event created a fun and welcoming environment while also helping students engage with the mission behind the club in a more personal way.

From November 5 through December 13, we organized a donation drive supporting the Women’s Care Center. Thanks to the generosity of students at the Newman Center, we collected 613 items for mothers and babies in need. Donations included diapers, wipes, baby clothes, toys, books, and other supplies for both babies and mothers. Seeing the amount of support students were willing to give was incredibly encouraging. The drive served as a reminder that being pro-life also means showing up for families in practical and tangible ways.

In the spring semester, our focus shifted more toward sustainability and public policy. As graduation approached, I worked to identify and mentor future student leaders who can continue growing the organization after I graduate. I spent time helping incoming executive members learn how to organize events, keep students involved, and continue building momentum for the club moving forward.

We also hosted two public policy-focused initiatives during the spring semester. Our spring kickoff event for the club featured Savanna Deretich, who spoke about public policy, legislation related to life issues, and ways students could become more involved in advocacy. Students from the University of North Dakota Students for Life also joined us for the event, which helped build connections between campuses and generated excitement for future collaboration.

After this event, I connected with the executive commissioner of technology to officially adopt a pregnancy resource page for NDSU. This resulted in the creation of a centralized page with information about pregnancy and lactation resources available to students through the university. The goal was to make it easier for pregnant and parenting students to find support and know that they are not alone while navigating college.

Throughout the year, these initiatives allowed our chapter to actively live out the Five Pillars of Pro-Life Activism: Effective Education, Rapid Response, Industry Impact, Public Policy, and Supportive Services. Whether through advocacy, prayer, leadership development, or direct service, we worked to build a culture that recognizes the dignity of every human life. Looking back on this year, I am grateful not only for the impact we were able to make, but also for the foundation we were able to build for future students to continue this mission at NDSU.