Pattison High School Student Fred Lee Shortlisted for 2026 John Locke Essay Prize

VANCOUVER, BC — 11th-grade student Fred Lee from Pattison High School has been shortlisted for the 2026 John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize in the Law Category. This esteemed competition, recognized as one of the most rigorous academic writing contests for high school students globally, drew 100,227 contestants from 183 countries.

Following a stringent evaluation by faculty from the University of Oxford and Princeton University, Fred's essay was chosen from the top 17.5 percent of submissions. His essay, "The Limits of Compassion in Sentencing," examines whether a defendant's family circumstances should influence sentencing. Fred argues that it undermines the principle of equal treatment for equal crimes and suggests that social welfare programs should address the collateral impact on innocent family members.

He supports his argument with references to judicial precedents and scholarly sources. Fred will attend the John Locke Institute's exclusive Academic Conference and Gala Ceremony in London on 3 October 2026, where the grand prize winners will be announced. Fred expressed his honor at being recognized by world-renowned academics and his eagerness to engage with scholars at the event.