[Iabs-talk] FW: Article from Braille Monitor Articles Section 2019 03 01

[davant1958 at gmail.com]

Denise R. Avant, Esq.

President,

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois

773-991-8050

Live the life you want.

 

For more information about NFBI,

Go to www.nfbofillinois.org

 

From: NFB-NEWSLINE Online <publications at nfbnewsline.net> 
Sent: Saturday, March 2, 2019 6:09 AM
To: Denise Avant <davant1958 at gmail.com>
Subject: Article from Braille Monitor Articles Section 2019 03 01

 

Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest Results by Deborah Kent Stein From the
Editor: Deborah Kent Stein is a writer of such renown that she hardly needs
introduction here. She is the author of many children's books, and she edits
Future Reflections , a publication aimed at parents who want to get the most
for their blind children so they will become adults living the lives they
want. In addition to her work nationally, Debbie Stein is active in her
chapter and affiliate. In this article she writes as the coordinator of the
Braille Readers Are Leaders Program. Here is what she says: From December 1
until January 19, K-12 students across the country were busy reading and
counting up their pages for the Nationwide Braille Readers Are Leaders
contest (Nationwide BRAL), sponsored by the American Action Fund for Blind
Children and Adults and the NFB Jernigan Institute in partnership with the
NFB of Illinois. Twenty-six states signed up to participate in this year's
competition, and seventy-four students from seventeen states submitted
reading logs. Students are awarded prizes based on the number of Braille
pages they read during the reading period, certified by a parent/guardian or
teacher. This year Virginia led in participation, with twenty-six students
taking part. The Virginia School for the Blind (VSB) took an active role in
encouraging students to get involved. The top reader in this year's
competition is Holly Connor, an eighth grader from Clayton, Missouri. Holly
read a whopping 4,001 Braille pages! The first-place winners in each grade
category will receive a check for $25. Second-place winners receive $15, and
third-place winners and honorable mentions receive $10. Each participating
student will receive a packet of Braille-related gifts. Below is a list of
the 2018-2019 nationwide BRAL winners: Grades K-1 First Place: Victor
Turner, Romeoville, IL, 419 pages Second place: Cole Fish, Vancouver, WA,
132 pages Third Place: Rebecca Butler, Boaz, AL, 118 pages Honorable
Mention: Christian Lopez, Mesa, AZ, 114 pages Grades 2-3 First Place: Aisha
Safi, Chevy Chase, MD, 1,995 pages Second Place: Preston Rose, Eagan, MN,
1,479 pages Third Place: Zanyiah Bell, Bowie, MD, 1,099 pages Honorable
Mention: Clara Scelsi, Pell City, AL, 1,020 pages Grades 4-5 First Place:
Noa Hottin, Alexandria, VA, 2,503 pages Second Place: Milo Sherman,
Brooklyn, NY, 734 pages Third Place: Jonah Rao, Columbia, MD, 721 pages
Honorable Mention: Isaiah Rao, Columbia, MD, 690 pages Grades 6-8 First
Place: Holly Connor, Clayton, MO, 4,001 pages Second Place: Nicholas Tarver,
Many, LA, 1,780 pages Third place: Mercy Rao, Columbia, MD, 850 pages
Honorable Mention: Noah Kano, Pingree Grove, IL, 827 pages Grades 9-12 First
Place: Samuel Thurston, Chesapeake, VA, 1,657 pages Second Place: Josh
Greer, Medical Lake, WA, 949 pages Third Place: Aaliyah McKethan, Galloway,
NJ, 757 pages MOST IMPROVED READER This award is given to a student who has
shown exceptional improvement in reading since the previous contest. This
year's most improved reader is Mercy Rao, grade 6, Columbia, MD. KELLY DOTY
AWARDS Kelly Doty Awards are presented in memory of Kelly Doty, a longtime
member of the NFB of Illinois who was a dedicated promoter of Braille
literacy. These awards are given to students who have coped with extra
challenges in order to become proficient Braille readers. Such challenges
include, but are not limited to, having disabilities in addition to
blindness or being an English language learner. Here is the list of the
students who received this year's Kelly Doty Awards: Katra Abdi, grade 3,
St. Cloud, MN Sadie Ainsworth, grade 3, Parker, CO Noa Hottin, grade 4,
Alexandria, VA Benjamin Shambarger, grade 9, Lisbon Falls, ME Samuel
Thurston, grade 9, Chesapeake, VA Victor Turner, grade 1, Romeoville, IL
Kollin Uttech, grade 12, Watertown, WI Congratulations to all of these
winners, and to the families and teachers who encourage and support them in
their reading. Braille readers are leaders! 

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