Boy Without Hands Wins Penmanship Award - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Family Ties Forever! · 04-07-2011, 07:53 PM

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Boy Without Hands Wins Penmanship Award
Judges Create New Category For Students With Disabilities

Posted: Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Updated: 11:04 am CDT April 7, 2011

Readfield, Maine -- A 10-year-old boy who earned a spot in a national penmanship contest despite being born without hands is in a league of his own, contest organizers say. Fifth-grader Nicholas Maxim, who writes by holding a pencil between his arms, impressed the judges enough that they created a new category for students with disabilities. Maxim received the first Nicholas Maxim Special Award for Excellent Penmanship this week at a school assembly.

The student at Readfield Elementary School is known for his penmanship, even though it's not easy for him because he was born without hands or lower arms. Judges who sifted through 200,000 handwriting entries in the annual contest run by Zaner-Bloser, of Columbus, Ohio, were so impressed that they decided a new category was warranted to inspire others. Maxim, who said he likes writing and illustrating comic strips, didn't know his paper had been submitted to the contest, so Monday's school assembly in his honor came as a surprise.

"We submitted his entry because we felt his penmanship was amazing considering he completes most of his work without using his prostheses," said Principal Cheryl Hasenfus. Zaner-Bloser estimates that more than 2.5 million students have participated in the handwriting contest during its 20-year history. The 2011 winners will be announced next month in Florida.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Retro4Life · 04-07-2011, 08:01 PM

Good for him! A nice story of triumph over disability!

catlover79 · 04-07-2011, 08:46 PM

That is so great.

old grouch · 04-08-2011, 10:20 AM

An amazing kid!!!

Marvo301 · 04-08-2011, 02:47 PM

What an inspiration!

catlover79 · 04-08-2011, 05:14 PM

Yes, he is!!

04-07-2011, 08:01 PM	#2
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Good for him! A nice story of triumph over disability!
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

04-07-2011, 08:46 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	That is so great.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

04-08-2011, 02:47 PM	#5
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	What an inspiration!
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

04-08-2011, 10:20 AM	#4
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	An amazing kid!!!

04-08-2011, 05:14 PM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Yes, he is!!