An exceptional first-grader, Anaya Ellick, born without hands has outsmarted 50 of her peers to win a national handwriting competition. It was Tracy Cox, principal of Greenbrier Christian Academy in Chesapeake, Virginia, who entered Anaya for the Nicholas Maxim Special Award for Excellence in Manuscript Penmanship.
The national Handwriting Contest is an annual event sponsored by Zaner-Bloser to promote legible handwriting, and Anaya managed to win first prize. Speaking of Anaya, Cox told ABC News: "There is truly very little that this girl cannot do. "She is a hard worker. She is determined. She is independent. "She is a vivacious and a no-excuses type of young lady." Anaya's parents, Bianca and Gary Ellick are proud of their daughter, who they said has always been precocious - tying her shoes, getting herself ready, and attempting to do things herself before asking for help, according to reports.
The young girl is doing amazingly well. Her parents have expressed confidence in her ability to overcome her impairment, which she continues to do each day.