Nigerian-American Teen Tomisin Olawepo-Hashim Wins Cambridge Essay Competition

Tomisin Olawepo-Hashim, a 15-year-old Nigerian-American student, has won the Junior Film & Art category at a 2026 Cambridge schools’ essay competition.

Tomisin, who competed in the junior category for students in Years 10 and 11, was recognised for her entry in Film & Art following assessment by academics involved in the competition.

She emerged as one of four winners in the junior category of the competition, which featured Politics, Philosophy, Literature, and Film & Art.

The other junior category winners were Miruna Irina, who won Politics; Prerna Sagaran, Philosophy; and Ajuni Arneja, Literature.

In the senior category, Anna Yeung won Politics; Adeline Udeh, Philosophy; Ollie O’Brien, Literature; and Yuanxi Brooke, Film & Art.

The Cambridge Language Collective, a student publication focused on broadening perspectives beyond the Anglophone world, announced the results on its social media platforms.

Her mother, Dr Funmi Adewara, who announced the achievement on LinkedIn, said she was proud of her daughter’s recognition for both her creativity and writing.

Adewara said Tomisin had developed interests in acting, film, art, writing and storytelling, adding that the latest recognition brought together different aspects of her creative interests.

“At 14, Tomisin gained a place at the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, an institution known for developing young performers,” Adewara said.

In releasing the results, the co-editors-in-chief, CLC, Lauren and Millie, said the standard of entries was “incredibly high”, while congratulating all contestants for their efforts.

They encouraged participants who did not win to continue writing and take part in the competition again.

The Cambridge Language Collective said the winning entries would be published alongside other selected entries.