Award for Writing Excellence

Am Pàipear is the proud sponsor of the Lionacleit School senior writing prize, grandly titled the Am Pàipear Award for Writing Excellence.

This year, the £50 prize was shared by two young men whose skill with the written word was clear to see in their submissions.

The written pieces were completed as part of the pupils’ Higher English portfolio, which set a task to research a topic of interest and write a report of up to 1300 words on the subject.

Shaun MacDonald, aged 17, from Rhugashinish, South Uist wrote a thoughtful and passionate piece on the Western Isles fishing industry and the challenges and opportunities that the sector offers. Jamie MacSween, aged 16, from Nunton, Benbecula chose the controversial issue of childhood inoculations, setting out a compelling and well-reasoned case for mandatory vaccinations.

Both boys have a clear talent for the written word, though neither plans to earn their living from the pen; Shaun will be joining the Merchant Navy on leaving school, and has set his sights on climbing the ranks; for Jamie, the next move will be to Glasgow, where he expects to study architecture.