‘Handless’ first grader wins U.S. manuscript penmanship contest

Image taken from Greenbrier Christian Academy’s official website.

A 7-year-old girl, who was born without both hands, was awarded the Nicholas Maxim Special Award for Excellence in Manuscript Penmanship on Thursday (May 5), during the 2016 National Handwriting Competition in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Greenbrier Christian Academy (GCA) student, Anaya Ellick, edged out 50 other youngsters from across the country with her phenomenal legible skills, despite her apparent physical deficiencies.

Amazing! 1st grader from Chesapeake who was born without hands won a national handwriting competition @13NewsNow pic.twitter.com/Y3b0qFtdru

— Kristina Zverjako (@13KristinaZ) May 4, 2016

According to reports from ABC news, the resilient student does not use prosthetics and prefers to write by holding a pencil between her two arms, while standing up to get the right angle on the paper.

“Anaya is a remarkable young lady. She does not let anything get in the way of doing what she has set out to do,” said GCA principal Tracy Cox. “There is truly very little that this girl cannot do.”

One of her first-grade teachers, Joan Stalnaker, said the young girl does not let her disabilities define her, and is completely independent during class activities.

“It was the first time that I have ever had a student like this, but I was very shocked at everything she can do from cutting to gluing, to writing, Stalnaker told ABC.

Anaya’s work was submitted in the category that encourages the participation of students with cognitive delays, along those with intellectual, physical and developmental disabilities. Khristian Ibarrola