Congratulations to the Winners of the Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest

March 2, 2023 - In recognition of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, we are excited announce the first, second, and third place winners of the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest. In addition to the prize packets sent to all participants, winners received a check for $25, $15, or $10 depending on placement.

Braille Readers Are Leaders Winners – 2023

Youth Contest

K – 1 Grade
1st Place – Luise Schmidt-Eisenlohr – 2,170 minutes - Virginia
2nd Place – Max Tevanian – 1939 minutes - Maine
3rd Place – Max Drake – 505 minutes - California

2nd – 3rd Grade 
1st Place – Geraldine Duque – 3,258 minutes - Virginia
2nd Place – Mikaela Murrey – 2,488 minutes - Colorado
3rd Place – Mila Chow – 2,479 minutes - California

4th – 5th Grade
1st Place – Narjis Karimpour – 6,480 minutes - Louisiana
2nd Place – Yaakov Elbaum – 3,582 minutes – New York
3rd Place – Urijah Gonzalez – 3, 300 minutes - Oregon

6th – 8th Grade
1st Place – Divani Miguel – 5,717 minutes – New Jersey
2nd Place – Mitchell Russell – 3,787 minutes - Utah
3rd Place – Ryder Sitch – 3,520 minutes - California

9th – 12th Grade
1st Place – CJ Frazer – 6,280 minutes - Minnesota
2nd Place – Sierra Carreiro – 4,031 minutes - Tennessee
3rd Place – Anna Wester – 2,649 minutes - Minnesota

Adult Contest Winners

Adult Novice
1st Place – B.J. Snyder – 18,704 minutes – New York
2nd Place – Donna Casteen – 15,767 minutes - Colorado
3rd Place – Alfonso Simental – 9,483 minutes - Colorado

Adult Intermediate
1st Place – Robert Eggleston – 9,981 minutes - Virginia
2nd Place – Keri Getzinger – 8,605 minutes – South Dakota
3rd Place – Robert Gardner – 7,204 minutes - Illinois

Adult Expert
1st Place – Angela Randall – 33,660 minutes - Ohio
2nd Place – Nicholas Wilcox – 25,965 minutes - Iowa
3rd Place – Barbara Hammel – 18,153 minutes - Iowa

Breaking Limits Award Winners for 2023

1st Place - Madison McCombs – 1,384 minutes – New York
2nd Place - Stella Alford – 606 minutes - Indiana 
 

Thank you to all participants and supporters. There will be another Braille Readers Are Leaders contest during the 2023-2024 school year. The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults is pleased to partner with the National Federation of the Blind to strengthen Braille literacy and to create opportunities to put Braille in the hands of blind children and adults.