Sara Hinesley won the National Handwriting Award in the United States of America recently – the Nicholas Maxim Award in the 2019 Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest. And what is so special about that?
Sara was born without hands.
To write, the 10-year-old third grader at St. John’s Regional Catholic School in Frederick, Maryland holds the pencil between the ends of her arms. She won this award that is given to students with special needs, cognitive delays, or an intellectual, physical, or developmental disability.
Sara was taught cursive writing at school and she believed that she had a natural flair for it. And, her teachers and principal at school are absolutely delighted that she has won the contest. Her Principal at school, Kathy Smith said that Sara was the first student of the school to have been awarded this prize.
Her mother, Cathryn Hinesley says that her daughter has a fierce independent streak and loves to figure out her own way rather than take help from others.
This little prodigy can also write Mandarin, apart from English. Her hobbies include painting, sculpting, and drawing.
What is remarkable is that Sara has never worn a prosthetic and her family believes that she does not need one. And we truly agree. Isn’t she doing fantastic without any external aid?
Sara will be awarded the trophy and a cash prize of $500 at a ceremony conducted on June 13.
Isn’t Sara a testimony to the fact that firm willpower is all that is needed to beat any odds? What do you think about this?
