A local elementary student is heading to nationals in Vancouver this June for an effective speaking competition for Air Cadets Canada.

Arishya Aggarwal, a grade 8 student at École Arthur Meighen, participated in a provincial Air Cadets speaking competition in Winnipeg this past Sunday and won. Aggarwal's speech was about organ donation and she says she plans to use that speech at nationals, adding she's very excited.

"I'm going to speak about organ donation still, and there will be 1 impromptu speaking competition there, but I don't know what I'm going to do that on because they give the topic when we get there. It's exciting because you never know what you're going to get and when you get your topic you always know it will be something you can talk about. You can speak from your heart about it and it's not scripted so it's very honest."

Aggarwal says she'll be competing against someone from each province with a chance at winning university scholarships.

"There is 1 person from each province going to nationals, so I'm expecting around 12 or 13 people. You can get Power and Glider scholarships to go to universities through Air Cadets."

Aggarwal recently won 3 gold medals at a debate competition in Winnipeg, and is going to another national event later this year for yet another speaking competition.

Submitted photos