Pair of East Elementary students named State Handwriting Champions

Zaner-Bloser, the Language Arts and Reading CompanySM, has announced that two students from East Elementary School in Waukon are State winners for their grade levels in the company's annual handwriting contest.  Kiara Ahlstrom, daughter of Brian and Vicki Ahlstrom of Waukon, has been named Iowa’s best fourth grade  handwriter, and Madalyn Palmer, daughter of Eric and Stephanie Palmer of Waukon, has been named Iowa’s best fifth grade handwriter.
Their handwriting entries were selected as the best in the state of Iowa in their respective grade levels, with Iowa's entries being among more than 300,000 entries received from students across the nation. Both students will now be competing to be chosen as one of eight Grand National Handwriting Champions.
Ahlstrom and Palmer were recognized for their success at assemblies held at East Elementary School. According to East Elementary Principal Ann Hart, “We are very proud of our students. We have had seven previous state and national handwriting contest winners. And this is the second time that we have had two students win in the same year!”
The annual Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest encourages legible handwriting by testing the handwriting abilities of students in grades first through eighth whose schools use Zaner-Bloser Handwriting curricula. “Zaner-Bloser is very proud of the invaluable skill demonstrated by each and every one of these students in their strong handwriting, both cursive and manuscript,” said Zaner-Bloser President Bob Page. “Research continues to show how handwriting is a foundational skill that ultimately leads to students’ academic and  career success.”