The Clarkson Historical Society held their Second Annual Handwriting Contest awards ceremony in the Clarkson Academy on Saturday, January 23. The event was part of the nation-wide “Campaign for Cursive” sponsored by the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation, which promotes cursive writing instruction in public schools.
The Foundation designated January 23 as National Handwriting Day as a celebration of John Hancock’s birthday, January 23, 1737. A copy of the signers of the Declaration of Independence went on display at the Academy so all could see the distinct and beautifully written signatures on the 1776 document, most notably John Hancock’s.
“Clarkson Historical Society is excited to be a part of this burgeoning interest in the teaching of cursive,” said Mary Edwards, president of the Society that holds cursive writing classes at the historic Academy building.
Winners in grades 4 and 5 included: First place Emma Lenhard, Quest School, Hilton; second place Louie Conte, Kendall Elementary School; and third place Aubrey Hammill, Union City, Pennsylvania (she visits her grandmother in Brockport).
Winners in grades 6 through 8 included: First place Carli Kirkwood, Byron-Bergen Middle School; second place Christina Bishop, Oliver Middle School, Brockport; and third place Jacey Donahue, Byron-Bergen Middle School.
Winners in grades 9 through 12 included: First place Kennedy Jones, Holley Jr. Sr. High School; second place Madison Marsh, Holley Jr. Sr. High School; and third place Dakota Thompson, Holley Jr. Sr. High School.
Three judges selected the winners from the almost 140 writing samples submitted this year – double the number of last year’s Handwriting Contest. Sixty-two entries came from the Byron-Bergen seventh grade, approximately 26 from Brockport’s Fred Hill Elementary and Oliver Middle School, 37 from the Kendall School and 13 from the Holley High School.
Along with the writing entries submitted were two notes from teachers at the Kendall and Holley Schools: From Kendall School, “On behalf of the fourth grade students at Kendall Elementary School, thank you for a real life experience to apply our newly acquired skill of cursive handwriting.” And from Mrs. Wantuck, a tenth grade English teacher at Holley High School, “Thank you for providing an opportunity for my students to share their cursive skills. They thought it was great that there is a contest!”
