the Tom Pettit Memorial Award for her prize-winning essay "Why Am I Thankful''.

Lusher, who was presented with a $500 prize from United States Consul General Robert A. Farmer, read her essay at a Thanksgiving Ecumenical Service at St.

Theresa's Cathedral on Thursday.

Her essay was selected from over 200 entries and because the contest received so many top quality entries five other additional prizes were awarded, contributed by Inter-Ocean Reinsurance Company Ltd.

Receiving $100 each and a commendation for excellence were: Jason Cabral (Saltus Academy), Lyndsay Colosimo (Mount Saint Agnes), Denaye Hinds (Berkeley Institute), Sacha Llewellyn (Bermuda High School) and Eloisa Mayers (Mount Saint Agnes).

Judges included Mr. Farmer, Education Minister Jerome Dill and Royal Gazette editor David L. White.

The Tom Pettit Award was established by Patricia Pettit of Paget in honour of her late husband, a distinguished NBC journalist.

Here is Lusher's essay: *** In my life, there are many things that I have to be thankful for, and what better time to recognise them than Thanksgiving. This day of blessing reminds us all of what we take for granted.

There are many different things one can be thankful for. A child may be thankful for butterflies or fuzzy animals. On the other hand, a businessman may be thankful for the Dow Jones one week. Those are the things we are usually thankful for, but there are so many other things that often go unnoticed.

My loving family and trusting friends are reasons for me to be thankful.

Fulfilling food, warm shelter, and safety are important, too. I am also thankful that I am living in a free country where poverty is not devastating, and my health is good because of equipped hospitals.

I am thankful for my acceptance into this world. I am also thankful that there is free speech and diversity. People who are willing to guide others spiritually makes me glad, too.

My thanks also go out to the leaders of nations who represent me truthfully. I am thankful for the justice system and those dedicated people who keep me safe. I thank all those dreamers who do not hesitate and take the next step.

Who plunge through their roadblocks and go on to conquer. I am also thankful for geniuses and their numerous accomplishments. For all those people who expand their minds to create, save, or inspire. Also for my memory and my ability to cope with reality. Lastly, I am thankful that people like Martin Luther King, Einstein, Mother Theresa, and Princess Diana were born. Their lives have touched the world.

When I thank others I will try to remember to think not of myself personally, but of humanity in general. Be thankful for those people who see the simpler pleasures, those who are pushing insanity, and those explorers who dared to dream and landed here, in Bermuda, starting a wonderful society. Because without those people we would not be here today. In my gathered wisdom I am now thankful that I may look beyond the ordinary and be thankful for everything that is in some way a part of my life.

Thank you! HONOURS LIST -- US Consul General Bob Farmer, Education Minister Jerome Dill and Patricia Pettit are shown with Sarah Lusher, Jason Cabral, Lyndsay Colosimo, Denaye Hinds, Sacha Llewellyn and Eloisa Mayers.