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CHESTERFIELD INLET
A young student in Chesterfield Inlet won some great prizes for herself and her school earlier this month.

Principal Allan Pitcher presents Natasha Kadjuk of Victor Sammurtok School with her prizes for winning second place in the kindergarten to Grade 1 category of the 2011 Nunavut Fire Prevention Poster Contest in Chester earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Victor Sammurtok School

Natasha Kadjuk, 7, a Grade 1 student at Victor Sammurtok School, took second place in the kindergarten to Grade 1 category of the 2011 Nunavut Fire Prevention Poster Contest.

Kadjuk was presented with her winnings, which included a backpack full of prizes and a certificate of accomplishment, during an assembly at her school.

There were a total of 412 submissions from across Nunavut for the contest.

Kadjuk said she entered the contest because she loves to draw and colour.

She said she just started working on the poster and things went from there.

"I was really happy and excited when I found out I finished second," said Kadjuk.

"My favourite prize is a kid's computer I've been using a lot since I won it.

"I really like drawing a lot, so I think I'll keep doing it as I get older."

Principal Allan Pitcher describes Kadjuk as a very bright, friendly, artistic and hard-working student.

He said the school is quite proud of her achievement.

"Natasha has parents who are extremely interested in her and the activities she's involved with," said Pitcher.

"It's good when you see young students with that kind of support at home."

Pitcher said it's important when young students have their efforts recognized at the territorial level.

He said irrespective of any prizes, it gives young people a lot of confidence in themselves when they have such an accomplishment.

"That, in turn, encourages others, so your participation rates in those kinds of things go up at other times.

"The nice thing about this is, besides the prizes Natasha won for herself, she also earned $500 to be used for student activities at the school.

"So, not only has Natasha won for herself, but that money will, no doubt, assist in the travel or fundraising that has to be done several times during the school year.

"It's a great accomplishment, especially when your award is shared with others."

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