Danielle Burton checks her work during the Kentucky Braille Challenge for students in grades K-12 who read and write Braille, sponsored and hosted by the Kentucky School for the Blind and the American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville Jan. 27, 2011. She placed first in the varsity category. Photo by Amy Wallot

Danielle Burton checks her work during the Kentucky Braille Challenge for students in grades K-12 who read and write Braille, sponsored and hosted by the Kentucky School for the Blind and the American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville Jan. 27, 2011. She placed first in the varsity category. Photo by Amy Wallot

Shane Lowe, a middle school student at the Kentucky School for the Blind (KSB) took top prize for having the high score for all levels and categories in the Kentucky Braille Challenge on Jan. 27.  Ashley Alvey, a student at Atherton High School (Jefferson County), received the overall high score in reading comprehension.

Hosted by the American Printing House for the Blind and KSB, the competition is a part of the Braille Challenge program of the Braille Institute. As the only national Braille literacy competition of its kind in the country, the competition is specifically designed to challenge and reward blind students for their study of Braille, which is essential to their future academic and employment success.

Other winners include:

  • Apprentice Level – Mari Durrett (KSB), first place; Jessica VanBruggen (KSB), second; and Danielle Hardiman (KSB), third
  • Freshman Level – Mason Tilley (Trimble County), first; Allie Johnson (Pulaski County), second; and Alex Stine (KSB), third
  • Sophomore – Shane Lowe (KSB), first; Justin Hedges (KSB), second; and Eric Scott (Hardin County), third
  • Junior Varsity – Damon Boards (KSB), first; Ashley Alvey (Jefferson County), second; and Cheyenne Harper (KSB), third
  • Varsity – Danielle Burton (Carter County), first; Robert Townsend (KSB), second; and Brooke Berger (KSB), third
Members of the varsity team take the stage during the opening ceremony of the Kentucky Braille Challenge for students in grades K-12 who read and write Braille, sponsored and hosted by the Kentucky School for the Blind (KSB) and the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) in Louisville Jan. 27, 2011. Photo by Amy Wallot
Taryn Seif cheers during the opening ceremony of the Kentucky Braille Challenge for students in grades K-12 who read and write Braille Jan. 27, 2011. She was participating on the freshman team. Photo by Amy Wallot
Kentucky School for the Blind student Amiracle Foard stands and cheers as her name is called during the opening ceremony of the Kentucky Braille Challenge for students in grades K-12 who read and write Braille, hosted by the Kentucky School for the Blind and the American Printing House for the Blind Jan. 27, 2011. Photo by Amy Wallot
David Carnes smiles as his name is called during the opening ceremony of the Kentucky Braille Challenge Jan. 27, 2011.
Alex Stine competes in the freshman Braille spelling contest during the Kentucky Braille Challenge Jan. 27, 2011. Photo by Amy Wallot
Damon Boards competes in the Kentucky Braille Challenge Jan. 27, 2011. He was competing with the junior varsity team. Photo by Amy Wallot
Danielle Burton checks her work during the Kentucky Braille Challenge for students in grades K-12 who read and write Braille, sponsored and hosted by the Kentucky School for the Blind and the American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville Jan. 27, 2011. She placed first in the varsity category. Photo by Amy Wallot
Brooke Berger checks her work during the Kentucky Braille Challenge Jan. 27, 2011. Berger was competing in the varsity category. At right is Kyle Smith. Photo by Amy Wallot

MORE INFO …
Jane Thompson, jblome@aph.org, (800) 223-1839, ext. 370