An 8-year-old boy in Chicago has been named a national handwriting champion.
A 2nd grader at Saint Constance Catholic School on the city’s Northwest Side, William Markevich, was selected out of 260,000 students nationwide as the Grand National 2nd Grade Handwriting Champion by education supplied Zaner-Bloser.
“I worked pretty hard,” William said. “When I small my mom would help me write. She took my hand and helped me write letters.”
William’s parents said they knew early on he would win the title because writing came so naturally to the young student, who began writing at just 2 years old.
“He was able to stay focused for like 45 minutes so I just noticed that this child is special and he is,” said his mother Maryna Shutovich.
The achievement marks a big milestone in an academic world where handwriting has been cut from curriculums nationwide.
“It impacts reading, it impacts writing, it impacts their language skills and their overall academic performance,” said Milicent Clyburn with Zaner-Bloser.
