A student in Tecumseh has brought home the grand prize of a nationwide essay contest.
Lucas Omstead, a Grade 12 student at Tecumseh Vista Academy, was announced as the winner in the Grade 9 to 12 category of A&E's Lives That Make a Difference Essay Contest this week.
Omstead wrote his essay about Governor General Mary Simon, which was chosen out of hundreds of submission received, and as the Grand Prize winner he will receive $1,500 and his teacher will receive $500 for use in his classroom.
"So I wrote about Mary Simon, she's the Governor General of Canada and she's an Indigenous woman, so she's very inspiring to young Canadians everywhere."
In his essay, Omstead wrote that Simon's experienced, dedicated and passionate leadership on Indigenous interests and her commitment to representing her background in her various roles affirms Canada's commitment to reckoning with the past in the Truth and Reconciliation process.
"I focused on how she was relatable and inspiring to a lot of young Canadians," he continued. "How she advocates a lot for interests of Indigenous people throughout Canada, and how she just represents her background in general."
According to Omstead's principal this isn't the first time he's won a contest like this, and he explained that writing is just been something he's been drawn to in his life.
"I just enjoy writing them, I've always enjoyed writing. I've written short stories in the past, that kind of thing. Also it's interesting to learn about new people, and new subjects to write about. And finally the money, I guess," he said.
Omstead says the money will support his schooling as he moves ahead to postsecondary, where he will be attending the University of Windsor for computer science.
The essay contest has only been around since 2020, with individual students in Grades 5 through 12 able to enter by writing and submitting an original essay in English supporting their choice of an important person who has had a significant impact on Canadian society.
- with files from AM800's Rob Hindi