MANSFIELD — The Ohio Christian Education Network (OCEN), a ministry of Center for Christian Virtue (CCV), has named Mansfield Classical Academy a Silver Level Recipient of the Mike and Peggy Hartshorn Dignity of Life Award, recognizing the school’s commitment to instilling a biblical respect for the sanctity of human life in its students.
Established in 2025, the Hartshorn Award honors K–12 schools that intentionally integrate pro-life values into their educational mission. The award is named in tribute to Mike and Peggy Hartshorn, who have been faithful leaders in the pro-life movement in Ohio and beyond.
Mansfield Classical Academy earned this distinction through its exceptional student activism and community engagement over the past year. Driven by student initiative, a passionate student group established a new, official Students for Life chapter on campus.
The chapter quickly made a significant impact through several key initiatives:
- National Recognition: In March, chapter members participated in a nationwide sidewalk chalk awareness campaign, earning recognition as a finalist for their creative public display.
- Pro-Life Apologetics and Education: The student group delivered an educational presentation to their newly formed club, focusing on the harmful mechanics of different abortion procedures, the subtle rise of chemical abortions, and how to effectively shift abortion-minded hearts using compassionate pro-life apologetics.
- Community Outreach: The Students for Life club hosted an informational table at the academy’s Children’s Fair, distributing educational materials from the national organization alongside localized resources on life-affirming options from the Richland Pregnancy Center.
“We cannot assume that young people growing up in a Christian community will form a pro-life ethic on their own,” said OCEN Executive Director Troy McIntosh. “Mansfield Classical Academy is actively and intentionally teaching its students why a respect for the dignity of life is a vital component of a Christian worldview. We are proud to honor their efforts through this award.”
As a Silver Level recipient, Mansfield Classical Academy is recognized for taking meaningful steps to cultivate a pro-life culture within its school community through instruction, student engagement and support for life-affirming causes. The school will receive a digital award seal and a commemorative plaque at CCV’s Essential Summit this fall, where 2026 recipients will be honored.
“Mike and Peggy Hartshorn have shown what it looks like to stand up for the most vulnerable,” said CCV President Aaron Baer. “Schools like Mansfield Classical Academy are raising up a new generation to do the same—and that’s cause for great hope.”
The Hartshorn Dignity of Life Award is presented annually to schools across the nation that are making a significant impact in pro-life education and discipleship. For more information, visit Hartshorn.OCEN.org or contact OCEN at ocen@ccv.org.
The Ohio Christian Education Network (OCEN) protects the religious liberty of Christian schools and ensures every Ohio family has access to a Gospel-centered education.