The Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest, known as the Super Bowl of penmanship tournaments, recently crowned its 2024 grand champions, rewarding nine students from six states for their exceptional handwriting skills. Among the winners was Zita Miller of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, who captured the top spot in the fifth grade category with her original mystery story filled with beautifully written letters. Another grand champion, Namuun Baasanbold from Carmel, Indiana, expressed her love for writing handwritten “love notes” to her loved ones, noting that writing by hand makes her feel special.
The contest’s recognition of exceptional penmanship comes at a time when handwriting is experiencing a resurgence in the U.S., with California recently becoming the 22nd state to mandate cursive instruction in schools. Various studies have highlighted the cognitive benefits of writing by hand, including improved memory, cognitive development, reading comprehension, and fine motor skills. Assembly member Sharon Quirk-Silva, a proponent of the California bill mandating cursive instruction, emphasized the bipartisan support for handwriting education, noting the widespread agreement on the importance of handwriting as a valuable tool for communication and cognitive development.
Research conducted by experts like Sophia Vinci-Booher at Vanderbilt University has underscored the cognitive benefits of handwriting, particularly in early childhood education. Studies have shown that writing by hand helps children form connections in the brain that support early letter recognition and improve reading development. Additionally, research has indicated that the physical act of writing on paper leads to better memory recall compared to typing on electronic devices, providing the brain with more sensory details that enhance learning and retention of information.
Educators like Geeta Kadakia and Laura Gajderowicz have observed firsthand the positive impact of handwriting on students’ learning and cognitive development. Kadakia, who teaches at a Montessori school, has seen how improved handwriting skills can lead to better performance in math and other subjects. Gajderowicz, a retired elementary school teacher and regional judge in the Zaner-Bloser contest, stresses the importance of handwriting in developing students’ eye-hand coordination and believes there is a place for both technology and handwriting in the classroom. Winners of the competition are judged based on criteria evaluating the mechanics and precision of their letters, including shape, size, slant, and spacing, in addition to a written explanation of how handwriting improves their reading and writing skills.
For young champions like Namuun Baasanbold, winning the Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest has been a moment of joy and celebration. Baasanbold expressed her excitement at winning the competition and celebrated with friends over pizza, appetizers, and dessert. As a prize, she received a trophy, $500, and the pride of being recognized for her exceptional handwriting skills. These young winners exemplify the enduring importance of handwriting as a form of art, cognitive development, and communication skill that continues to be celebrated and valued in education and society.
