[Colorado-Talk] Aurora Chapter Essay Contest

Sun Sep 20 16:17:55 UTC 2026

Hello All

The Aurora Chapter is hosting an essay contest for blind children in
Colorado. Please spread the word. We would be happy to talk to your chapters
more about this.  If you would like me to zoom in, please give me a call.

Here is the announcement about our contest.

250-150 Essay Contest for Blind and Low Vision Students

(Note: We are passing this announcement along because we think it would be
of interest to Colorado kids who are blind or low vision, their parents and
teachers.)

Our country is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States. In
Colorado, we are also celebrating our states 150th anniversary. Heros of our
past are being honored and remembered for all they have contributed. This
year the Aurora Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado
is celebrating the accomplishments of our Blind ancestors.

The Aurora Chapter is sponsoring an essay contest for blind or low vision
children in grades 6-12 enrolled in public or privates schools in Colorado
to tell us about their favorite blind hero from the past and what that
person meant to them. The first prize is $100. We will be accepting essays
after September 1, 2026.

Teachers or educators of Blind students are encouraged to use our contest as
a class assignment and/or learning tool--whether that be for learning about
proper document formatting, earning extra credit for Braille assignments, or
learning to perform research.

Guidelines for submission

1.	Essays must be 1,000 words or more, written in the student's own
words.
2.	The subject must be a blind person, living or dead, who lived in the
United States.
3.	Submissions must be received no later than November 28, 2026, and
students must register at the link below before submitting their essay.
4.	Essays can be submitted in hardcopy print, hardcopy Braille, or
electronically via email.

The committee will review and select the winners to be awarded at the
December 2026 gathering of the Aurora Chapter. Registration must be
completed before the November 28 submission deadline through the link, NFB
Aurora Chapter Essay Contest Registration
<https://u23754554.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.lofmFcFAaz0i6x0AMaUD1ky
j28Irr7g5AeKS5EYd0i6ezCM8gWQHye3JeY9zZuzWAytnCvSkzqu0HH2lEw10SeDcPA-2BcJ-2F8
AtK79DZldEpw-3DbQuq_SEyRicMk2WtEDODHkY1fvBLcCVl7rxC-2FjBlVM0d55ia5X86-2FEOe9
41oFFZuMfiyOewPahcdOiCnEQUCS794mrkoc8KU9XWHmRMixWgO8qh485GyJJI00S3dTISzfIanu
irkbzFZuuDBCnJf8664HuCbetddykO2JXIL6xroeADP6DE2uGG02U31-2FjLFZbwD-2BKQW84SiW
j31dGq1CydbJUd4tlq8j-2Buep9eg2GON11Qvbsb-2Fij-2FHe4oYK-2F4Eq4Ax1dPVg4I8oIjK6
hvhQAA7aj4UHsjKYliw8XAUPwWdKZSs-3D> . Braille and print hardcopy essays
should be mailed to Peggy Chong, 14152 E Linvale Pl. 201, Aurora, CO, 80014.
Email electronic submissions to chongpeggy10 at gmail.com
<https://u23754554.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.lofmFcFAaz0i6x0AMaUD1ky
j28Irr7g5AeKS5EYd0i6ezCM8gWQHye3JeY9zZuzWwXGiaEvZHeMgUQE0k51Zq8WtkOxLaHnGHsl
gYe9a5vE-3DabYf_SEyRicMk2WtEDODHkY1fvBLcCVl7rxC-2FjBlVM0d55ia5X86-2FEOe941oF
FZuMfiyOewPahcdOiCnEQUCS794mrkoc8KU9XWHmRMixWgO8qh485GyJJI00S3dTISzfIanuirkb
zFZuuDBCnJf8664HuNt6lXE-2FDRQMSb2KYsDctiHmEjAHdRhHi0W-2B4lHdo8Co78A34f7NAMI9
favXonlk8d2BStwKym5xbGNHNCEAtqUdDBwNipJVp-2BW9akZfhYEzokXOjfpA1mTnXokC7vXyA4
zyunzu3vNu1qhAF-2BoJUCo-3D> .

For more information, research ideas, accessible research sites, and how to
enter, contact Peggy Chong, 14152 E. Linvale Pl., Unit 201, Aurora Colorado,
80014 or via email at chongpeggy10 at gmail.com
<https://u23754554.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.lofmFcFAaz0i6x0AMaUD1ky
j28Irr7g5AeKS5EYd0i6ezCM8gWQHye3JeY9zZuzWwXGiaEvZHeMgUQE0k51Zq8WtkOxLaHnGHsl
gYe9a5vE-3DMPCW_SEyRicMk2WtEDODHkY1fvBLcCVl7rxC-2FjBlVM0d55ia5X86-2FEOe941oF
FZuMfiyOewPahcdOiCnEQUCS794mrkoc8KU9XWHmRMixWgO8qh485GyJJI00S3dTISzfIanuirkb
zFZuuDBCnJf8664HuI2PeWy1KjiW3lqQbV9knP2TCNHV1UAxEUBDtzNrRuct6HiS1tW3yf0ZGcPf
28b5PUsPoolrmvMyQyC7ak3xZGorD7kzC9VwmzrNLBedC8x9iGpi5KdkGGvurDqTonjpvqCPcaVA
Jy5iwf2K3N2HbRY-3D> .

Winning essays may be published in publications of the National Federation
of the Blind.

Essay Guidelines, Research Options, and Suggestions

The committee will be looking at the storytelling of the participant's
essay, not so much on grammar or punctuation. No AI or copy-and-paste essays
will be accepted.

Stories can include thoughts about the blind ancestor, what the child
learned, or the effect the blind ancestor had on the child.

The committee will expect that essays have been spell-checked before
submission.

Research sites that are mostly accessible can be found online. Examples
include (but are not limited to) Colorado Newspaper collections at Colorado
Historic Newspapers Collection
<https://u23754554.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.lofmFcFAaz0i6x0AMaUD1ky
j28Irr7g5AeKS5EYd0i6ezCM8gWQHye3JeY9zZuzWlRCUG-2Bb3FZ97EJV45qplWF-2FSMUzul9V
l2HwCeTuAo5I-3DHYOM_SEyRicMk2WtEDODHkY1fvBLcCVl7rxC-2FjBlVM0d55ia5X86-2FEOe9
41oFFZuMfiyOewPahcdOiCnEQUCS794mrkoc8KU9XWHmRMixWgO8qh485GyJJI00S3dTISzfIanu
irkbzFZuuDBCnJf8664HuEi2-2BB66asXFqo8lrMUoiYgxF0WSlvkP-2F9UdRTGI5EILRFzrPwC7
nEgZs-2FMIBmVQHL6UkScZXtjeOGkZQ-2F8D1pPm5UVOKPfspQheeq8NsfG3sLNH7Wbv1Kne4FGg
w-2BQM5zwMY5Wq4LM1INvql5dCjLM-3D>  or through the History Colorado Museum at
https://www.historycolorado.org/search-the-collection
<https://u23754554.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.lofmFcFAaz0i6x0AMaUD1ky
j28Irr7g5AeKS5EYd0i6ezCM8gWQHye3JeY9zZuzWG92zvrtfaJ61F06GPfBdLS06lTn3K1qOiTj
6vBWrIS0-3DaTuG_SEyRicMk2WtEDODHkY1fvBLcCVl7rxC-2FjBlVM0d55ia5X86-2FEOe941oF
FZuMfiyOewPahcdOiCnEQUCS794mrkoc8KU9XWHmRMixWgO8qh485GyJJI00S3dTISzfIanuirkb
zFZuuDBCnJf8664HuI04xrAdqsitiNbm0a5L-2BC15rAWXnqOKfN-2FarcE2scPgSHAdBgyxIcTZ
Kfi-2BesurZluqfF8hvHVrYXd1-2BrDiQWj2JEoqihBlcWjiej1dJT3NwpK9D1URKGDnWWVIuzTT
LbcJ9Pg-2FrPL6rAKyciitcS4-3D> .

Students can also call local libraries for assistance with targeted
questions.

Here are some examples of some notable blind people who have made
significant accomplishments in the history of blind people.

*	Ted Henter - founder of Henter-Joyce, the company which developed
the JAWS for Windows screen reader.
*	Tim Cramner - Inventor of many high and low tech devices for the
blind.
*	Amy Bower - Oceanographer.
*	Dr. Abraham Nemeth - developer of the Braille Nemeth Code for
Mathematics and Science.
*	Joseph Pulitzer - Newspaper man.
*	Elias Ammons - Blind Governor of Colorado.
*	Ralph Teetor - Inventor of cruise control.
*	Erik Weihenmayer - Colorado athlete and teacher who climbed Mt.
Everest.
*	Elsie Cowan - Co-Founder of the Friends of the Colorado Library for
the Blind.
*	Elena Zelayeta - Author, TV personality, cook, and founder of a
frozen food firm.
*	Don Mahoney - Children's TV star from Texas.

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