[NFBOK-Talk] National Federation of the Blind Announces Winners of 2017 Onkyo Braille Essay Contest

[Jeanie Massay]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 


National Federation of the Blind Announces Winners of 2017 Onkyo Braille
Essay Contest


Competition Encourages Braille Usage among the Blind

Baltimore, Maryland (January 4, 2018): 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

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.

The seven winners from the North America/Caribbean Region were as follows:

 

Otsuki Prize

Jessie Mabry, Connecticut, US

 

Excellent Work Award, Senior

Tammy Frost, Minnesota, US

 

Fine Work Award, Senior

Jennifer Spears, Colorado, US

Jamie Lloyd, St. Catherine, Jamaica

 

Excellent Work Award, Junior

Kristen Steele, Iowa, US

 

Fine Work Award, Junior

Fernando Reyes, New Mexico, US

Hannah Neils, Minnesota, US

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.

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."

 

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About the National Federation of the Blind

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 www.nfb.org
<https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=9899&qid=2093365
> .

 

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

cdanielsen at nfb.org <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org> 


 


 

 

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