Contest challenges students to think about competition

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Toronto, 16 September 2009 – French for the Future is proud to announce the launch of its 5th annual National Essay Contest. 

Exceptional scholarships, ranging from $2,000 to $20,000, will allow this contest’s winners to pursue their post-secondary studies completely or partially in French, ensuring that they will remain bilingual and reap all the benefits of speaking both languages.

Worth a total of $202,000, the scholarships are offered by French for the Future’s long-time partner, the University of Ottawa, as well as l’Université Sainte-Anne in Nova Scotia and the Campus Saint-Jean of the University of Alberta.  It is the first time in the history of this annual contest that the winners in each category—French first language and French second language—will be able to choose from three different universities. 

This year, Canadian high school students are asked to express, in French, their views on the concept of competition in a 1,000-word essay.  Is competition useful?  Does it help achieve greatness?  Does it crush the spirit?  Is it responsible for record-breaking feats? For international conflict?

 “To ask about competition in the context of a contest only helps to highlight the ubiquitous presence of competition in our society,” says Helen Coltrinari, French for the Future’s President.  “Youth face competition in every aspect of their lives and we’d like to hear what they have to say about it.  The participants are already striving to become bilingual, which places them a step above the competition already.”