Zaner-Bloser Announces Top 16 National Winners in 21st Annual National Handwriting Contest

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Apr 11, 2012, 11:52 ET

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Zaner-Bloser is proud to announce that 16 students from across the country have displayed excellent handwriting skills to become National Winners in its 21st annual National Handwriting Contest. This year, more than 325,000 students participated in the annual contest. Zaner-Bloser estimates that nearly 3 million students have participated in the contest during its 21-year history.

Schools held their own handwriting contests and entered the winning student for each grade level. The contest entries were judged according to the Zaner-Bloser Keys to Legibility: Size, Shape, Spacing, and Slant. Zaner-Bloser awards cash prizes and educational materials with a total value of over $100,000 to winning students, teachers, and schools who participate in the annual contest.

The top 16 National Winners representing both public and private schools include:

Grade 1

William Frautschy, Dover, OH-East Elementary School
Brooke Morgan, Metairie, LA-St. Edward the Confessor School

Grade 2

Justin Smith, Cascade, MT-Cascade Elementary School
Ashton Hoppe, Fond Du Lac, WI-Redeemer Lutheran School

Grade 3

Trenton Stokes, Camden, SC-Pine Tree Hill Elementary School
Amber Mastbergen, Grand Rapids, MI-Hope Protestant Reformed Christian School

Grade 4

Sophie Halverson, Waukon, IA-East Elementary School
Jake Robuck, Gambrills, MD-School of the Incarnation

Grade 5

Alyssa Peyton, Ashton, WV-Ashton Elementary School
Nicholas Dante, Saint Paul, MN-Christ's Household of Faith School

Grade 6

Megan Lucas, Topeka, KS-Jay Shideler Elementary School
Emily Pohalski, Melville, NY, St. Pius V School

Grade 7

Trinh Tran, Charlotte, NC-Southwest Middle School
Lauren Will, Denton, TX-Immaculate Conception Catholic

Grade 8

Travis Anderson, Mott, ND-Mott-Regent School
Trey Hunter, Union, MO-Immaculate Conception School

"Zaner-Bloser is very proud of the invaluable skill demonstrated by each and every one of these students in their strong handwriting, both cursive and manuscript," said Zaner-Bloser President Bob Page. "Research continues to show how handwriting is a foundational skill that ultimately leads to students' academic and career success."

Judges selected state winners in grades 1–8 for both public and private schools. State winners competed against each other to become one of the 16 public and private National Grade-Level Winners. The National Grade-Level Winners then competed to be chosen as one of eight Grand National Champions. Zaner-Bloser will officially announce the eight Grand National Champions on April 25.

About Zaner-Bloser

Zaner-Bloser, a wholly owned subsidiary of Highlights for Children with more than 120 years of experience in education, is one of the premier publishers of research-based reading, writing, spelling, vocabulary, and handwriting programs. The Zaner-Bloser mission is to create dynamic, appealing, and effective educational programs and services. Zaner-Bloser focuses on distinctive programs that inspire all students to become engaged, literate participants in the global society.

SOURCE Zaner-Bloser