The Diavik employee, who is out of town, won a $10,000 windfall in the Ticket to Adventure raffle held by Sir John Franklin high school.

The school reached Paul through his mother last week to tell him about the prize.

The students raised $60,000 through the raffle, money which will be used for three school trips this year.

The grand prize, and eight other smaller prizes, were drawn at the school's Jan. 15 parent advisory committee meeting. The top prize is a choice between $10,000 cash or a trip for four to the Caribbean.

Other prizes included a fishing trip to Peterson's Point Lake Lodge and a trip to Norman Wells that comes with a Mackenzie River tour and fossil hunt passes from the town.

"The prizes all have an adventure feel to them," said Bill Braden, a volunteer who organized the prizes for the raffle.

Students sold 4,200 tickets at $20 each in booths in the community. Many sold tickets through word of mouth and by going door to door.

The raffle was co-ordinated by Rachel Simmons, French teacher at the school.

Simmons said the school decided it would be better to hold one big fundraiser rather than several small ones, as they have in previous years.

"It's easier for the community to get behind," she said.

One student group will travel to Mexico to scuba dive, another will go to Paris to be immersed in French language and culture, and a third will tour museums and galleries in Europe. The trips are planned for later this year.