Maine boy born without hands honored for penmanship

READFIELD, Maine (AP) — A Maine youngster who entered a national penmanship contest is getting a category all his own. That’s because fifth-grader Nicholas Maxim’s neat handwriting comes without the use of hands.

The student at Readfield Elementary School is known for his penmanship, even though he was born without hands or lower arms. The judges at Zaner-Bloser in Columbus, Ohio, who sifted through 200,000 handwriting entries were so impressed that they created a new category for students with disabilities.

The 10-year-old learned that he was the winner of the first Nicholas Maxim Special Award for Excellent Penmanship at a school assembly on Monday.

A Zaner-Bloser spokesman says Maxim writes by holding a pencil between his arms. Maxim says he enjoys writing and creating comic strips.