Waukegan second-grader wins state penmanship contest

A Waukegan student’s impressive handwriting has earned her recognition in a national penmanship competition.

Gabriela Hernandez, a second-grader in Julie Ahern’s classroom at Cooke Magnet School, was named a state grade-level winner in Zaner-Bloser’s National Handwriting Contest.

Gabriela’s penmanship submission topped second-grade students throughout Illinois.

The competition, which was sponsored by Zaner-Bloser, an education publishing company, intended to promote the art of penmanship.

An estimated 325,000 submissions were judged on keys of legibility, including the size, shape, spacing and slant of letters.

As a state winner, Gabriela received a special engraved rosewood box and a pen. Cooke was also awarded with a $200 Zaner-Bloser coupon.