Chicago Kids Win National Handwriting Championships

CHICAGO, IL - Two Chicago-area youngsters have been named national handwriting champions.

William Markevich, a second grader at Saint Constance Catholic School on Chicago’s Northwest Side and Donald Yu, a first grader at Elmwood Elementary School in Elmwood Park, were selected among more than 200,000 other students in their grade level nationally as the Grand National Handwriting Champions this year.

The contest is held by Zaner-Bloser, a national education supplier. It has been around for 25 years and is open to all students in grades kindergarten through eighth.

The students’ handwriting is judged on “shape, size, spacing and slant,” according to contest rules.

“I worked pretty hard,” Markevich said in an interview with NBC-Chicago. “When I small my mom would help me write. She took my hand and helped me write letters.”