A Winnipeg student earned third-place in an essay contest, but she did not even know she had entered it.

Sarah Veloso, a grade 11 student from Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute (MBCI), earned third place in Canadian Mennonite University's (CMU) essay contest.

Veloso says her teacher, Ms. Kelly Reimer had created an essay assignment for another contest. The essay was to be 1500 words on the role of surveillance in a digital world.

Veloso, going against her own personal bias, argued in her essay that surveillance should be allowed as progress trumps privacy in our current society. Veloso says, "I thought it would be fun to explore that side. It's always good to know the other side of the debate."

Reimer chose the top 10 essays from the class and entered them in the contest, but to Veloso's surprise, she had also been entered into CMU's contest.

Veloso says Reimer informed her of the CMU contest after she has been awarded third place. "I was very surprised to hear that because it was not the right one! But I was very happy about it."

As the third-place winner, Veloso was given $100 cash and an additional $200 tuition if she chose to attend CMU after graduation.

Veloso says, "I haven't decided on a career or a school yet after I graduate."