<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><br><br><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">-- <br>Miranda b. Kilby</span><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ph: <a dir="ltr" href="tel:(352)942-0417" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors-result="2">(352)942-0417</a></span></div></div><div><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><b>From:</b> National Federation of the Blind via NFBNet-Members-List <<a href="mailto:nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org">nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Date:</b> January 4, 2018 at 11:12:29 PM EST<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org">nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org</a><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>[Nfbnet-members-list] National Federation of the Blind Announces Winners of 2017 Onkyo Braille Essay Contest</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> National Federation of the Blind <<a href="mailto:webmaster@nfb.org">webmaster@nfb.org</a>><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div>
<br>
<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br><br>
</b><div align="center"> <br><br>
<h1><b>National Federation of the Blind Announces Winners of 2017 Onkyo
Braille Essay Contest</b></h1>Competition Encourages Braille Usage among
the Blind<br><br>
</div>
<b>Baltimore, Maryland (January 4, 2018):</b> The National Federation of
the Blind (NFB), in celebration of World Braille Day, is proud to
announce the winners of the 2017 Onkyo Braille Essay Contest. The NFB
administered the Onkyo Braille Essay Contest on behalf of the North
America/Caribbean Region of the World Blind Union and encouraged all
countries in the Region to participate<br><br>
The essays were required to be written in Braille and could cover a
variety of proposed topics related to the importance of Braille. There
were two groups of competitors: a junior category for persons up to age
twenty-five and a senior category for persons aged twenty-six or older.
Each winner received a substantial cash prize, a plaque, and other gifts
from the Onkyo Corporation.<br><br>
The seven winners from the North America/Caribbean Region were as
follows:<br><br>
<br><br>
<i>Otsuki Prize<br><br>
</i>Jessie Mabry, Connecticut, US<br><br>
<br><br>
<i>Excellent Work Award, Senior<br><br>
</i>Tammy Frost, Minnesota, US<br><br>
<br><br>
<i>Fine Work Award, Senior<br><br>
</i>Jennifer Spears, Colorado, US<br><br>
Jamie Lloyd, St. Catherine, Jamaica<br><br>
<br><br>
<i>Excellent Work Award, Junior<br><br>
</i>Kristen Steele, Iowa, US<br><br>
<br><br>
<i>Fine Work Award, Junior<br><br>
</i>Fernando Reyes, New Mexico, US<br><br>
Hannah Neils, Minnesota, US<br><br>
The essay contest, sponsored by Onkyo Corporation, a Japanese consumer
electronics manufacturer, and the Braille Mainichi, part of the Mainichi
Newspaper Company in Japan, was created to promote Braille literacy and
to encourage the sharing of social and cultural information among blind
and low-vision persons.<br><br>
Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
said: “We are pleased, once again, to have been a part of this important
contest. There can be no doubt that the ability to read and write Braille
competently and efficiently is the key to education, employment, and
success for the blind. Despite the undisputed value of Braille, however,
less than 10 percent of blind children in the United States are learning
it. We congratulate the contest winners and commend them for
demonstrating the positive impact Braille has had on their lives through
their essays, and for raising awareness of the importance of Braille
literacy as they live the lives they want.”<br><br>
<div align="center"> <br><br>
<b>###<br><br>
</b></div><b>
About the National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
</b>The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in
Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind
Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and
divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB
defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information
and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are
losing vision, and more. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind
people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about
our many programs and initiatives at
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=9899&qid=2093365">
www.nfb.org</a>.<br><br>
<br><br>
<b>CONTACT:<br><br>
</b>Chris Danielsen<br><br>
Director of Public Relations<br><br>
National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br><br>
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br><br>
<a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><br><br>
<table border="0">
<tbody><tr><td width="508"> </td></tr>
<tr><td width="508"> </td></tr>
<tr><td width="508"><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=9900&qid=2093365">
<img src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-facebook-ms.png" alt="Facebook Logo">
</a> <br>
<br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=9901&qid=2093365">
<img src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-twitter-ms.png" alt="Twitter Logo">
</a> <br>
<br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=9902&qid=2093365">
<img src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-instagram-ms.png" alt="Instagram Logo">
</a> <br>
<br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=9903&qid=2093365">
<img src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-youtube-ms.png" alt="YouTube Logo">
</a> <br>
<br>
<a href="mailto:nfb@nfb.org">
<img src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-email-ms.png" alt="Email Icon Image">
</a> <br>
<br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=9904&qid=2093365">
<img src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-donte-ms.png" alt="Donate to the NFB Icon.">
</a> <br>
<br>
<b>National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD
21230 | (410) 659-9314</b><br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=8016&qid=2093365&h=07fe8a20e7f92816">
Unsubscribe</a> |
<a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=8016&qid=2093365&h=07fe8a20e7f92816">
Opt Out </a>|
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=9905&qid=2093365">
Sign up for email newsletter </a></td></tr>
<tr><td width="508"><font color="#FFFFFF"><br>
200 East Wells Street<br>
Baltimore, MD 21230<br>
United States</font></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="center"><br>
</div>
</div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>NFBNet-Members-List mailing list</span><br><span><a href="mailto:NFBNet-Members-List@nfbnet.org">NFBNet-Members-List@nfbnet.org</a></span><br><span>List archives: <<a href="http://www.nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbnet-members-list_nfbnet.org">http://www.nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbnet-members-list_nfbnet.org</a>></span><br><span>To unsubscribe from NFBNet-Members-List:</span><br><span>goto <a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbnet-members-list_nfbnet.org/mbkilby%40gmail.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbnet-members-list_nfbnet.org/mbkilby%40gmail.com</a></span></div></blockquote></body></html>