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On December 1, 2020, enthusiastic readers began to log the Braille pages
they read as participants in the 2021 Braille Readers Are Leaders
contest. For the next seven weeks, until January 18, 2021, contestants
kept careful records of the Braille pages they read. <br>
<br>
Sponsored by the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults in
partnership with the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children,
the Braille Readers Are Leaders contest was created as a way to encourage
Braille literacy among blind children and adults. School-age participants
entered the contest in any of five categories: grades K-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-8,
and 9-12. The adult category was open to anyone beyond high school. Some
120 participants from twenty-eight states and Canada took part in the
competition.<br>
<br>
At the close of the seven-week reading period, contestants submitted
their reading logs. Based on the number of pages read, three winners were
declared in each category. First-place winners are awarded $25,
second-place winners will receive $15, and third-place winners and
honorable mentions are awarded $10. Every participant will receive a
T-shirt and a packet of Braille-related gifts. <br>
<br>
In addition to the regular competition, participants could be nominated
to receive a Breaking Reading Limits Award. These awards are given to
readers who face special challenges in their effort to master Braille
reading. Such challenges include, but are not limited to, being an
English-language learner or having disabilities in addition to blindness.
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For many participants the Braille Readers Are Leaders contest was an
inspiring challenge. "My son is so excited that he is a
winner," one mother wrote. "Thank you for all you do; it is
because of the NFB that he has these critical Braille-reading
skills." "I am so proud of this student!" wrote a teacher.
"She is the most dedicated and consistent reader on my
caseload." The mother of a kindergartener wrote, "Thank you for
encouraging kids to read and love Braille." <br>
<br>
The top reader in this year's contest was Sierra Carreiro, a high school
student from Clarksville, Tennessee. Sierra read a staggering 8,461
Braille pages during the contest period. <br>
<br>
Following is a list by category of the 2021 Braille Readers Are Leaders
winners.<br>
<br>
<b>ADULT<br>
</b> <br>
First Place: Judy Sanders, Minneapolis, MN, 3,902 pages<br>
Second Place: Lori Parker, Belgrade, MT, 3,380 pages<br>
Third Place: Tara Chavez, Albuquerque, NM, 2,597 pages<br>
Honorable Mention: Angela Randall, Carrollton, OH, 2,596 pages<br>
<br>
<b>GRADES K-1<br>
</b> <br>
First Place: Hank Genelin, Springfield, VA, 2,409 pages<br>
Second Place: Mila Chow, San Ramón, CA, 1,074 pages<br>
Third Place: Emma McDermott, Dansville, NY, 380 pages<br>
<br>
<b>GRADES 2-3<br>
</b> <br>
First Place: Ellie Mason, Wausau, WI, 521 pages<br>
Second Place: Narjis Karimipour, New Orleans, LA, 496 pages<br>
Third Place: Emma Atkinson, Lincoln, CA, 478 pages<br>
<br>
<b>Grades 4-5<br>
</b> <br>
First Place: Nadiya Albrecht, Finksburg, MD, 975 pages<br>
Second Place: Passion Augustus, Ruston, LA, 608 pages<br>
Third Place: Keaton Hamilton, Newmarket, ON, Canada, 588 pages<br>
<br>
<b>GRADES 6-8<br>
</b> <br>
First Place: Jonah Rao, Columbia, MD, 4,193 pages<br>
Second Place: Isaiah Rao, Columbia, MD, 4,191 pages<br>
Third Place: Faith Switzer, Las Lunas, NM, 3,462 pages<br>
<br>
<b>Grades 9-12<br>
</b> <br>
First Place: Sierra Carreiro, Clarksville, TN, 8,461 pages<br>
Second Place: Holly Connor, Clayton, MO, 6,474 pages<br>
Third Place: Samuel Thurston, Chesapeake, VA, 3,282 pages<br>
<br>
<b>BREAKING READING LIMITS AWARDS<br>
</b> <br>
Nadiya Albrecht, Finksburg, MD<br>
Stella Alford, Indianapolis, IN<br>
Olivia Buck, Bryant Pond, ME<br>
Noah Gohlke, Port LaVaca, TX<br>
Evie Hefty, Sparks, NV<br>
Grace-anna Sullivan, Prescott, AZ<br>
Lily Taylor, Marysville, OH<br>
Luis Villanueva, Kensington, MD<br>
Paul Wales, Silver Spring, MD<br>
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Congratulations to all of these winners! Braille readers are
leaders!<br>
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