A group of students at Bermuda High School were recognised for their entry into a major international essay competition.

Sienna Spurling, Joy Ella Yammine and Aditi Varwandkar were all shortlisted for their entries in the junior category of this year’s John Locke Institute 2023 Global Essay Prize, while both Sienna and Joy were awarded distinctions.

The three travelled to Oxford last week for the prize giving ceremony.

While about 19,000 entries were made in the competition, distinctions were only awarded to 15 per cent of the shortlisted entries.

The junior category challenged students to produce an essay based on one of five topics including if safety is more important than fun, how the writer would spend $10 billion to make the world better and why John Locke is sometimes called the father of liberalism.

Essays are judged on understanding of the relevant material, the use of evidence, quality of argumentation, originality, structure, writing style and persuasive force.

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