LaurenHill student triumphs at provincial Scholastic Challenge

Fourteen-year old Adam Coleman, of LaurenHill Academy’s Junior Campus in St. Laurent, is this year’s Quebec Provincial Champion of the “Scholastic Challenge” contest. 

The Scholastic Challenge is a Canada-wide contest for Grade 8 students designed as an enrichment activity to stimulate students’ interest in knowledge, thinking and learning, and to offer a challenge to top-achieving students.  The contest has been offered nation-wide since 1998. 

The test consists of 100 on-line questions, and lasts one hour.  The six categories covered in the test are:  General Knowledge (food, art, sports, music, current events, entertainment, mythology, etc.), Language and Literature, History, Geography, Science and Math.

LaurenHill Academy invites 30 of its top-achieving Grade 8 students to participate in this contest each year.  The LaurenHill students have always performed very well, with the majority of participants scoring above the national average, and this is the fifth time that they have had a provincial champion, notes Guidance Counsellor Sherilyn Bell. Previous years’ winners have attended Selwyn House School (2019, 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2010), LaurenHill Academy (2018, 2017, 2015, and 2011), Bialik High School (2016, 2009, and 2008), Royal West Academy (2007, 2006, and 2005), Trafalgar School for Girls (2004) and Lower Canada College (2003).

Adam is an honour-roll student in LaurenHill Academy’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Program.  Prior to attending LaurenHill Academy, Adam was a student Cedarcrest Elementary School, also in St. Laurent.  

Upon hearing about his success, Adam responded: “I’m surprised, but I also feel proud of my accomplishment.  The LaurenHill STEAM Program has provided me with an enriched knowledge base, which I was able to draw on while I was competing in the contest.  The STEAM Program is a great stimulator of intellectual curiosity, and I look forward to continuing in this program during the rest of my high school education.”  

Anthony Coleman said that his son was diagnosed with high functioning ASD at age 4. “He was reading by age 2, before he could even speak,” he said. “He would read out every number plate of cars he saw passing by when walking with his mother on street.  My wife and I are extremely proud our son’s achievement and hope he can be an inspiration to others in their pursuits of academic excellence.

“Winning this contest means a lot to me,” says Adam. “It put me one step closer to success in achieving my goal of becoming a computer programmer and engineer. This is my biggest achievement so far and makes me believe I can reach even bigger accomplishments. I’m honored to represent my family, teachers and the school who helped me get to this goal.” 

For further information concerning “Scholastic Challenge” which also has a national contest for Grade 6 students, please visit: www.schoolschallenge.com