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.