Kent Driscoll
Northern News Services

Coppermine (Sep 05/05) - Anessa Dupont learned the importance of attending school, and a bit about the fickle hand of fate, while winning a laptop computer.

Dupont is a student at Kugluktuk high school - the home of the mighty Grizzlies - and was lucky enough to win first prize in the annual Drive for the Big Five in the Grizzlies annual draw.

Every year, students are encouraged to attend school right up until the last day. Students who do receive up to three tickets a day for five large prizes.

Dupont's ticket was drawn on the last day of school last year, the prize a personal computer.

However, to receive the price, a student must be in school the day their ticket is drawn.

"I was on summer vacation with my Dad and sister, and I was thinking, I should have never went to Ottawa," said Dupont.

"The rule is, if you aren't in school for the time of the draw, you can't win, that's just the way the cookie crumbles," explained teacher Isabelle Verreault, a member of the Grizzly booster club executive.

The 17-year-old Dupont learned a valuable lesson, never skip the last day of school, especially with a prize on the line. This year, she did not make the same mistake.

When the Draw for the Big Five happened this year, Dupont was front and centre, and she won again. She was even happier with the prize, instead of a computer, the Grade 11 student is the proud owner of a laptop computer.

"I felt great, I was happy and excited," said Dupont. She bought the game Atomic Bomber Man to use on her brand new system.

She learned her lesson, and said, "I'm coming to school, everyday."