Students win cash, share their stance on remote learning in essay competition

NEWS RELEASE
SAULT STE MARIE INNOVATION CENTRE
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Six local students will be taking home cash prizes thanks to their submissions to the “Remote Learning: Tell Us Your Stance” essay competition that challenged Algoma students to write an essay either in support of remote learning or against it.

The local challenge is a part of the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre’s (SSMIC) “Up for the Challenge” project that encourages Algoma residents and businesses to share their innovative solutions by participating in challenges on a local, regional, national, and global level.

“This was our first local challenge that we initiated, and we will continue to offer opportunities for people in the Algoma region to showcase their innovative ideas and encourage other organizations in the community to submit their local challenge ideas,” said SSMIC’s Executive Director, Peter Bruijns.

“The winning essays were thoughtfully written, offered interesting perspectives, and stood out among the 60 entries received.”

Prizes were awarded to students from elementary, secondary, and post secondary levels choosing one winner for the “against remote learning” category and one winner from the “for remote learning” category.

Congratulations to all the winners:

ELEMENTARY (Prize is $100 for each student):

Against - Niyati Patel - Grade 8 - Pinewood Public School
For - Kavi Giroux - Grade 8 - Korah Intermediate

SECONDARY (Prize is $200 for each student):

Against - Abigail Peake - Grade 12 - Korah C&VS
For - Layla Grawbarger - Grade 10 - Superior Heights C&VS

POST-SECONDARY (Prize is $400 for each student):

Against - Makenna Firman - First Year - Sault College
For - Emily Johns - Third Year - Algoma University

“We want to give a shout out to Mrs. Boniferro’s Grade 2 students at Holy Cross as our youngest contributors to this competition,” added Susan George, ICTN Lead at SSMIC and one of the members of the organization’s judging committee.

“These essays were fun to read, and we applaud these young students for sharing their stories with us. The rest of the judges and I were fascinated that students shared their many personal experiences and insights with remote learning. In sharing these experiences, we often laughed out loud in how the elementary students presented their experience. It was obvious that despite the challenges, many students could see the humour in these struggles.”

Regardless of their stance on remote learning, the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre would like to recognize all students for their resiliency and adaptability during these unprecedented changes to our education system.

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