NEBRASKA HANDWRITING CONTEST ANNOUNCES WINNERS

Winning entries have been announced for the 15th Annual Nebraska State Handwriting Contest.

“People aren’t emphasizing handwriting like they should,” said Julie Agard, an assistant professor in the Department of Professional Teacher Education at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Agard coordinates the statewide competition, which is administered by the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and endorsed by the Nebraska State Education Association and the Nebraska State Department of Education.

“A lot of teachers use it as a motivational tool,” Agard said.  Many held miniature handwriting contests in their classrooms and then submitted the top entries to the state contest.

Winning entries were selected in four age categories, with prizes awarded for first and second place. Prizes, a $25 gift certificate for first place and a $15 gift certificate for second place, are provided by Follett’s Campus Bookstore in Kearney.  Judging for the competition took place in Kearney. Participants competed in four age groups—ages 12 and under, ages 13–16, ages 17–49, and ages 50 and over.

“Most of our participants are in the 12 and under group, but we did have entries in each group,” Agard said.

The winners are listed below by category:

Age 12 & Under
1^st Place – Megan Fuchser, Malcolm
2^nd Place – Jordan Nash, Hastings
Honorable Mention – Kristen Gjesdahl, Omaha
Honorable Mention – Ashley Ryan, Indianola

Ages 13-16
1^st Place – Shari Spilinek, Elba
2^nd Place – Hannah Rivers, Raymond
Honorable Mention – Chancy Hampton, Ashby

Ages 17-49
1^st Place – Amber Nabity, Kearney
2^nd Place – Jean Nabity, Lincoln
Honorable Mention – Barb Jons, Naper
Honorable Mention – Tamy Limbeck, Kimball

Ages 50 & Over
1^st Place – Phyllis Burk, Chadron
2^nd Place – Sylvia Nightengale, Scottsbluff
Honorable Mention – Kathleen K. Maloney, Omaha
Honorable Mention – Ellen Imdieke, Wayne