Black History essay winner wants to be a teacher

The winning student in Lloydminster for this year’s Black History Month essay writing contest wants to be a teacher.

Grade 7 student Adrianna Schnitzler of Bishop Lloyd took the top prize in the contest put on the Lloydminster Local Immigration Partnership. Her essay was on John “Army” Howard who competed in Stockholm, Sweden in 1912, becoming Canada’s first Black Olympian.

“I think he would have won first place if it was not for a stomach ailment.”

Schnitzler wants to go to her “dream university”, the U of S to become a teacher and will be putting her essay prize towards education savings.

“It fits into all that’s here.”

Taking second place was Shella Khan at E.S. Laird with an essay on hockey player, Sarah Nurse, a contemporary sporting icon who has had to overcome challenges of racism and gender. Third place went to Summer-Lee who identifies as Black and Indigenous. Her essay was about Viola Desmond whose image is on stamps and the ten-dollar bill.

The theme for this year’s Black History Month was Black Excellence – a heritage to celebrate.