---

you can turn music on if you like ... "What if A Day" on electronic instruments (Kate's arrangement and MIDI sequencing of WHAT IF A DAY by Renaissance composer Thomas Campion)

W orld H andwriting C ontest

formerly

AAHC : A nnual A merican H andwriting C ompetition and

WHAC : W orld H andwriting A chievement C ontest

Entries (handwritten in your handwriting) must go to the headquarters of the World Handwriting Contest (address below), EXCEPT FOR ENTRIES FROM ANY COUNTRY WHICH IS LISTED AS HAVING ITS OWN NATIONAL AFFILIATE OF THE WORLD HANDWRITING CONTEST. Entries from any such country (listed below the international headquarters address) must be sent to the national affiliate in that country. The national affiliate address for any country with a national affiliate of the World Handwriting Contest is listed directly below the name of the country.

Due to the coronaviris crisis (COVID 19) we will be accepting entries by email for the 2021 contest starting in January 2021. The e-mail should go to the email address of the National Affiliate for the contest if there is one for your country. If your country does not have a National Affiliate with an email address listed send it to entryhandwriting@gmail.com .



INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS of the WORLD HANDWRITING CONTEST

HANDWRITING FOR HUMANITY

World Handwriting Contest

c/o Kate Gladstone - Handwriting Repair

165 North Allen Street

First Floor

Albany, New York 12206

United States of America

Phone number (518) 482-6763

The 2020 World Handwriting Contest is now closed and will not accept new entries and should be judged by August 17, 2020 due to computer problems.

The 2021 World Handwriting Contest will be accepting entries from January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021.

2019 winners are listed below. —

OUR SPONSORS:

Frank Smith: a signsmith and calligrapher from Albany, New York, USA, who believes that handwriting is of great importance -- will provide calligraphic certificates to each winner as the prize.

Mr. Ashok Batra: a Lifetime Triple Crown Winner of the World Handwriting Contest, from India -- contributes one writing instrument: a high-quality pen of his choosing. He holds that writing on paper forges a personal bond that can never be achieved through the latest technologies like internet and mobile phones.The personal touch in handwritten letters, he believes, is incomparable.

Thiruvengadam Madanagopal a skilled calligrapher in Tamil Nadu, India and Lifetime Triple Crown Winner of the World Handwriting Contest -- contributes one writing instrument: a high-quality pen of his choosing. He is the father of another sponsor wjho is also a very skilled handwriter: Narendra Moorthy.

Narendra Moorthy (also known as M. Narendramoorti): a Second Place Teen Cursive Winner of the World Handwriting Contest, and the son of Thir uvengadam Madanagopal (above) -- also committed to annually contributing, each year, a pen set for the World Pen-Champ (the best of all winners in a given year).

Sumita Bose of Melbourne, Florida, a friend of the Contest, has donated two books as prizes for the 2020 contest.

top

WE HAVE JUDGED the 2019 World Handwriting Contest.



CLICK HERE to see the winning entries in the 2019 World Handwriting Contest!

Handwriting for Humanity

MISSION STATEMENT

It shall be the purpose of Handwriting For Humanity to foster the study and use of handwritten communications.

The organization shallrcary out this purpose through activities such as:

The promotion of handwriting and its instruction in educational institutions, as well as for personal home study.

Making handwriting instruction and materials available to all children regardless of cultural and financial barriers.

Sponsoring an annual handwriting competition.

Recognizing individual and corporate efforts in the promotion of handwriting and its instruction.

Tracking technical trends in the development of handwriting, and its instruction and materials.

CREED:

HANDWRITING: that action of emotion, of thought, and of decision that has recorded the history of mankind, revealed the genius of invention, and disclosed the inmost depths of the soulful heart. It gives ideas tangible form through letters, pictographs, symbols, and signs. Handwriting forges a bond across millennia and generations that not only ties us to the thoughts and deeds of our forebears, but also serves as an irrevocable link to our humanity. Neither machines nor technology can replace or equal the contribution or continuing importance of this inexpensive portable skill. Necessary in every age, handwriting remains just as vital to the enduring saga of civilization as our next breath.

- Michael Sull

MOTTO:

EVERY HUMAN HAS THE RIGHT TO WRITE WELL.

James "Jim" Williams, director emeritus

and with grateful thanks to:

Michael Sull

the late John Schmits Glen Bowen HANDWRITING FOR HUMANITY

World Handwriting Contest

c/o

Kate Gladstone -

Marie Picon

The "BESSIE'S PEACE" Fund established by Thomas Hutson of Consultimate

and ...

an anonymous donor

Corporate Address:

Handwriting Repair

165 North Allen Street

Albany, New York 12208-1942

United States of America



To those interested in handwriting - Welcome!



We would like to invite you to enter

WHC : the W orld H andwriting C ontest

formerly the

AAHC: A nnual A merican H andwriting C ompetition and

WHAC: W orld H andwriting A chievement C ontest

WHC Contest still continues for Nebraskans, and gives credit to Mrs. Hutson every year, at (formerly AAHC and WHAC) grew out of the Nebraska Handwriting Contest founded in 1991 by Tom Hutson in memory of his late mother, Eva Margaret (Nielsen) Hutson, 1902-84, whose handwriting remained at an award-winning high level throughout her life. The Nebraskastill continues for Nebraskans, and gives credit to Mrs. Hutson every year, at the Nebraska Handwriting Contest Page of the University of Nebraska at Kearney . But ...

Not satisfied with a Nebraska-only (or even a USA-only) contest as a tribute to his mother, Tom Hutson set himself a larger goal: to establish a truly international contest by 2002 -- the 100th anniversary of her birth (and also the 480th anniversary of the first textbook on penmanship published in our alphabet). In 2001, we attained this goal a year ahead of schedule. Each year thereafter, we have done more, and we plan even greater doings for the future.

BECOME PART OF THIS: Share the following information on our handwritingcontest with any other person(s) or organization(s) you would like to interest in this contest and/or in penmanship generally. KEEP IN MIND ALWAYS: There are people who have a zillion online degrees but they never learned a handwriting they can take pride in ... There are people who spend a fortune getting an MBA online or even the old-fashioned way, but they never managed to develop good handwriting ... There are people who attended every high-powered school you can imagine, but they never acquired a clear, rapid, and attractive handwriting ... Whatever you have gained in life: if you have gained good handwriting, the World Handwriting Contest is your time and place to show it.

We would particularly enjoy hearing from:





W orld H andwriting C ontest

formerly the

AAHC : A nnual A merican H andwriting C ompetition and

WHAC : W orld H andwriting A chievement C ontest top

rules for entries:

click here for printer-friendly version of rules to print and share with others

WHEN DOES THE CONTEST BEGIN AND END?



The World Handwriting Contest accepts entries each year from January 1 until June 30. To qualify for prizes in a given year, an entry must arrive on or before June 30 of that year.

The Contest judges and director will select winners each year, beginning in July and continuing if necessary through September.

Prize-winners' names and writing-samples typically appear on this web-page as soon as possible after the judging - in other words, July or August when possible (but, if necessary, beginning in September or October) and remain on display here for a full year (until after the judging of the next year's contest), after which the new prize-winners' names and writing-samples will replace them. WHC distributes prizes to the contest-winners each year, distributing all prizes by December.



Mail your entry as early as possible. Postal systems can take several days or weeks to deliver an envelope, particularly when the mail must travel between countries. You may enter We cannot accept any facsimile (fax) or electronic submissions. PLEASE NOTE: We ask each writer to submit only one entry each year. An individual who has written more than one entry must select only one entry to send. In order to avoid overwork for our judges, beginning in 2008 the World Handwriting Contest will disqualify writers who send more than one entry.

WHO MAY ENTER ?



Anyone in the world, of any age, may enter the World Handwriting Contest. Our team of judges will evaluate your entry within ONE of the following age groups.



1. Children (age 7 and under)

2. Pre-Teens (ages 8 through 12)

3. Teens (ages 13 through 19)

4. Adults (ages 20 through 64)

5. Seniors (age 65 and over) Within each age group, the judges will sort submissions into two categories of handwriting:

FUNCTIONAL HANDWRITING - which strives for legibility, speed, and fluency without aiming at artistic effect. For this category, the judges will further separate entries as cursive or manuscript (printing). CURSIVE - joins 50% or more of its letters. MANUSCRIPT (print-writing) - joins fewer than half of its letters.



ARTISTIC HANDWRITING -which uses a monoline or calligraphy marker, pen, or brush along with decorative strokes, flourishes, or combinations of shading and hairlines to create an artistic effect.



WHC will award first and second prizes in each of these categories and subcategories.



PLEASE NOTE: the judges - not the contest entrants - determine the category and subcategory in which each entry belongs.

Use either lined or unlined paper, 8 1/2 x 11 inches or A4 size. Use any of the following writing instruments: ballpoint pen, fountain pen, felt/fiber tip marker, or calligraphy pen/brush. (Use the same writing instrument throughout the entry). Because we scan winning entries for display, please use only black ink and white or light-colored paper (plain or lined) with no pre-printed pictures or decorations. The written quote must fit on the front side of ONE sheet of paper. Allow at least a 1/2-inch margin on all sides of the quote. On the backside of your entry (not on the front), or in the text of the email to which a scan of an entry is attached write in English your full name, your full address, your age on July 1 of the year in which you enter, your phone number, your e-mail address (if any). Please do not use a separate piece of paper for this information, and please do not write this information on the front of the entry. The back of each entry must contain that entry's own identifying information.) NOTE:The name and address must be as legible as the entry

Students: Please give the school,s name and address (phone number and e-mail address if available) along with your own name and address, your school to receive notification of your winning. All personal information will remain confidential. The World Handwriting Contest will use student information only to notify winners and, in an aggregate manner, for research purposes.

You do not have to send your first attempt; in fact, we expect that you will not send your first attempt. Remember that the allotted time runs from January 1st through June 30th, so take all the time you need to practice and send your best effort. DO NOT cross out or make erasures. Do NOT send "rough drafts." If you make a mistake, start over: do NOT erase, cross out, "white out," or cover up your errors. Visible erasures/cross-outs/cover-ups/"whiting out" will count more heavily against your work than the original errors themselves. Contest judges will evaluate entries based on each entry's demonstrated

LEGIBILITY (how easily we can read the writing),

FLUENCY (the smoothness, grace, and flow of the writing),

and

COMPETENCE (choice of layout and margins; spacing between letters, words, and lines; consistency of letter size and forms; accuracy of the quote; neatness and general appearance; spelling; and whether the entrant strove to follow the letter and spirit of the Contest rules).

All entries become the property of the Contest. The World Handwriting Contest will not return submitted entries.

(Please note: until the first day of judging (July 1st), all material marked "World Handwriting Contest" or "Handwriting For Humanity" will remain unopened. If you have general inquiries about the contest and need a response before the judging begins, do not put the words "Handwriting for Humanity/World Handwriting Contest" onto the envelope.)

Do NOT mail or email your entries before January 1. We cannot accept entries with postmark-dates from the previous year.



WHAT YOU MUST WRITE:

FOR CHILDREN THROUGH AGE 12



HANDWRITING: that action of emotion, of thought, and of decision that has recorded the history of mankind, revealed the genius of invention, and disclosed the inmost depths of the heart. Handwriting ties us to the thoughts and deeds of our forebears and serves as an irrevocable link to our humanity. No machine or technology can replace the contribution or continuing importance of this skill. It has been necessary in every age and is just as vital to civilization as our next breath.

-Michael R. Sull-



FOR AGES 13 AND OVER



HANDWRITING: that action of emotion, of thought, and of decision that has recorded the history of mankind, revealed the genius of invention, and disclosed the inmost depths of the soulful heart. It gives ideas tangible form through written letters, pictographs, symbols, and signs. Handwriting forms a bond across millennia and generations that not only ties us to the thoughts and deeds of our forebears, but also serves as an irrevocable link to our humanity. Neither machines nor technology can replace the contribution or continuing importance of this inexpensive portable skill. Necessary in every age, handwriting remains just as vital to the enduring saga of civilization as our next breath.

-Michael R. Sull-



WHERE DO I MAIL MY ENTRY ?



All entries (handwritten copy-quotes in your handwriting) must go to the headquarters of the World Handwriting Contest (address below), EXCEPT FOR ENTRIES FROM ANY COUNTRY WHICH IS LISTED AS HAVING ITS OWN NATIONAL AFFILIATE OF THE WORLD HANDWRITING CONTEST. Entries from any such country (listed below the international headquarters address) must be sent to the national affiliate in that country. The national affiliate address for any country with a national affiliate of the World Handwriting Contest is listed directly below the name of the country

y.

WHERE CAN I EMAIL A SCAN OF MY ENTRY ? Entries may also be submitted scans (at 600 bpi or greater) of a handwritten copy-quotes in your handwriting emailed as an attachment to the email address entryhandwriting@gmail.com . Only one entry may be sent with an email, if more than one entry is sent in an email all the entries in the email will be rejected.. The email must have the information required to be on the back of a handwritten entry in the text of the email. The email should have the word entry in its title. The attachment should be in the form of GIF, JPG, or PNG file.



INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS of the WORLD HANDWRITING CONTEST

HANDWRITING FOR HUMANITY

World Handwriting Contest

c/o Kate Gladstone - Handwriting Repair

165 North Allen Street

First Floor

Albany, New York 12206

United States of America

Phone number (518) 482-6763

National Affiliates:

CHINA

World Handwriting Contest

Beijing StongFeeling Youth International

Room 404

Yeland International Center,

Malianwa Beilu Haidian District

Beijing CHINA 100193 Telephone: 0086 10 6289 0580

Fax: 0086 10 6289 6195

INDIA

World Handwriting Contest

www.healthyhandwriting.net

Mohan RAY

#2327, Sector-22C,

Chandigarh, India 160022

Contact Mohan Ray:

NEPAL

World Handwriting Contest

Deependra Ratna SHAKYA

P.O.BOX 19792

Kathmandu

Nepal

E-mail: allnepalhandwriting@hotmail.com

Mobile No. : 9801068344

YouTube video of presentation of awards to Nepalese 2014 winners

NIGERIA

World Handwriting Contest

Marcus Taiwo Adedara

Department of Tourism and Event Managment

College Social and Managment Science

Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State

PMB 4554 Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

Phone No. : +238033522473

2016 Nepal Contestants

Winners of the 2020 competition:

GRAND WINNER ("World PEN-Champ")

World Champ-PEN-Ship inter-contest round (in which our first-prize winners compete against the first-prize winners of other handwriting competitions for recognition as the world's best handwriter ) -

OUR REIGNING PEN-CHAMP!

Gopala Rao Sreekanta

Walsall, Midlands, UK

This year's World PEN-Champ is Gopala Rao Sreekanta, the winner in our contest for age 65 and above Artistic Handwriting. He preciously won our contest in 2019, first Place for age 65 and above Functional Handwriting (Cursive). Newspaper articles about Laxman Nago Bawankule winning World Handwriting Contest. In the Contest's World Champ-PEN-Ship round each year, we compare first-prize entries in the World Handwriting Contest with first-prize entries in one or more other handwriting contests that have asked to take part in the World Champ-PE.N-Ship.

age 65 and above, Functional Handwriting (Cursive) -

first place: Shariar Karim Andheri (West), Mumbai INDIA

age 65 and above, Functional Handwriting (Manuscript) -

first place: no competent entries

second place: no competent entries

s

age 65 and above, Artistic Handwriting -

first place Gopala Rao Sreekanta Walsall Midlands, UK He preciously won our contest in 2019, first Place for age 65 and above Functional Handwriting (Cursive). CLICK HERE to see this writer's prize-winning sample!

second place: I John Harry Robinson Kettering, Northants, UK CLICK HERE to see this writer's prize-winning sample!

age 20 - 64, Functional Handwriting (Cursive)

first place: Donna DeVito La Grange Park, IL, USA

second place: no entries in this subcategory

age 20 - 64, Functional Handwriting (Manuscript)

first place: Elise Huang Brooklyn, NY, USA

second place: no entries in this subcategory

age 20 - 64, Artistic Handwriting -

first place: Mohanan Nair Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala INDIA

second place: Veronica Leisner Markt Schwaben, GERMANY

age 13 - 19, Functional Handwriting (Cursive)

First Place: Vy Nguyen Portland, OR, USA

second place : Alisha Wong Farmington, MN, USA

age 13 - 19, Functional Handwriting (Manuscript)

First place: no entries in this subcategory

second place: no entries in this subcategory

age 13 - 19, Artistic Handwriting

first place: no entries in this subcategory

second place: no entries in this subcategory

age 8-12 , Functional Handwriting (Cursive)

First Place: Raymon Smith Richard Banasyadi, Bengaluru, INDIA

Raymon Smith Richard is a twelve-year-old student. His winning First Place in the World Handwriting Contest in the Preteen Functional Handwriting (Cursive) was reported in an article in The Times of India, a leading newspaper in India, on September 24, 2020.

second place: Charlotte Bell Tierney Chelsea, MI, USA

CLICK HERE to see this write's prize-winning sample!

age 8-12 , Functional Handwriting (Manuscript)

first place:

second place no entries in this subcategory

Artistic Handwriting age 8-12

first place: Aditya Kashyap Nageswarpur Malda District, West Bengal, INDIA She previously won in 2019 first place for Artistic Handwriting age 8-12 CLICK HERE to see this writer's prize-winning sample second place: Gabrielle Tong Milpitas, CA, USA CLICK HERE to see this writer's prize-winning sample

age 7 and under , Functional Handwriting (Cursive)

first place: no entries in this subcategory

second place: no entries in this subcategory

age 7 and under , Functional Handwriting (Manuscript)

first place no entries in this subcategory

second no entries in this subcategory



age 7 and under, Artistic Handwriting

first place: no entries in this subcategory

second place: no entries in this subcategory

Here is a letter from Mollie Maceachern, a former winner in the Functional Handwriting (Cursive) 65+, congratulation the 2019 winners

The results are also available on www.heathyhandwriting.net.

Expected Handwriting Quality:

WHC evaluates handwriting quality on these factors:

legibility - ease of reading

(unambiguous letters, clear spacing of words/lines, etc.),

fluency - ease of writing

(smooth, unlabored formation, or "flow"),

general competence

(even rhythm and spacing, good layout, etc.)

The best of our World Handwriting Contest winners for the current year wrote as well as, or better than, this.

World Handwriting Contest winners for future years probably will write this well or better, too.

(Can you do as well as our entrants, or better? If so, we look forward to seeing you enter in this year and future years.)

However, these handwritings (below) do not come up to the expected level of quality.

Writings like these do not tend to do well in the World Handwriting Contest.

WHC acknowledges that

a diversity of models exists good handwriting may take many forms



and that

a winning penmanship can harmoniously combine the influences of more than one style of handwriting.

The directors of WHC do not regard

an entry written in one particular style or type of writing as inherently "better" or "more mature" or "more desirable" than an entry of equal quality written in some other style (or written in a personal style which harmoniously combines the influences of more than one style or method of writing).

For example:

WHC does not require or prefer 100% joining, use of loops on letter-stems, particular letter-formations for capitals, etc. in its cursive handwriting entries.

WHC does not require or prefer a particular size or slant of writing, or a particular type or shape of stroke.

Generally, WHC does not require or prefer handwriting to adhere to this or that specific style of writing. An entry that follows a given handwriting-method does not receive "extra credit" from WHAC over an equally high-quality entry which shows a "mixed" influence, and/or which otherwise departs from one or more particulars of a taught system of penmanship.

WHC does expect easily legible, fluent writing whose slant (if any), size, spacing, and overall rhythm remain reasonably consistent throughout. With regard to these and other factors, the WHC takes the writer's age into full consideration.

For practical reasons, the WHC also takes into account the number of entries received in any given year. The more entries we receive, the stiffer competition any given entry will face, and the more stringently we will apply our standards for judging.

Happy writing!

The judges may disallow any entry whose quality does not meet the quality standards for winning a prize, even if there are no other entries in that Division.

WHC will distribute its prizes for this year‘s Contest before the conclusion of the current calendar year. (Distribution of prizes may begin as late as mid-October). Additionally, the management of the WHC has already begun arranging to obtain prizes and sponsorship for the next year‘s Contest. (Want to help? Let us know!)

Responsibility for final determination of prizes awarded at all levels will lie with the Directors of WHC (the World Handwriting Contest), whose officers will use the following factors in determining the prize distribution:

the number of contestants

the amount of financial and in-kind support provided by sponsors and other contributors to WHC.

Each winning entrant

will receive at least one prize.

WHC will award at least two prizes in each of its age-divisions (a first prize and a second prize).

For the current year, each winner will receive a caligraphed cerificate.

plans for the future:

What does WHC‘s future hold?

/1/ First and foremost, for 2007 and future years writers of ALL ages may enter the contest. Our previous limitation of entry to those aged 8 and above came from a concern among some judges that younger entrants might lack the skill or the desire to compete against others. However, we have learned better: thanks to numerous requests from parents, teachers, entrants, and (most of all) from those aged 7 and under who wished to enter but who could not enter under the old rules. For 2007 and thereafter, we have therefore established a "Children" group for these youngest entrants. Accordingly, we have re-named the previous "Children" group (entrants 8 through 12) the "Pre-Teen" group for 2007 and future years.

/2/ As always, in the current year and future years we plan to continue encouraging the ever-increasing participation in this worldwide contest, through media outreach and other means. This will depend on support from our sponsors (and any other interested individuals) in the coming year and future years.

/2/

In addition, we plan to continue expanding our top-level "World Champ-PEN-Ship" round of inter-contest competition, which provides WHC first-prize winners with the opportunity to test their skills against the first-prize winners of other handwriting contests (such as the PEN WORLD Handwriting Contest in years when this operates separately from the WHC, the Handwriting Contest of the Society for Italic Handwriting, and other contests which come to our attention and which would like to participate) for the ultimate prize of "World PEN-Champ.") In previous years, participating contests have included the HandwritingContest of PEN WORLD INTERNATIONAL magazine, the Handwriting Contest of the Society for Italic Handwriting, the Young Innovators' Club Handwriting Contest established by Indian businesswoman Maya Balani, and the CHAMBER Handwriting Contest established by Akron, Ohio community leader Jane A. Polk. We hope to continue adding more international, national, and local/regional contests each year to our World Champ-PEN-Ship roster.

CONTESTS CURRENTLY PARTICIPATING IN THE WORLD HANDWRITING CONTEST'S

WORLD CHAMP-PEN-SHIP ROUND:

/1/ the World Handwriting Contest itself

We believe that top-flight competition among established prize-winners in penmanship greatly encourages public interest in handwriting.

If you - or some person/organization you know - runs or promotes a handwriting contest of any sort (local, state-level, regional, national, or other), we would like to work along with you to create future top-level prize/publicity/other opportunities for your penmanship champions and ours.

We would take particular interest in working along with handwriting contests run by:

publishers of handwriting materials,

schools or school-systems

(local, state-level, regional, or national),

and/or calligraphy guilds



Would you like to see fine handwriting - for young and old - become a media "main event"? Contact us:

HANDWRITING FOR HUMANITY

World Handwriting Contest

c/o Kate Gladstone - Handwriting Repair

165 North Allen Street

First Floor

Albany, New York 12206

United States of America

ATTENTION: Champ-PEN-Ship/

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

/2/

WHC‘s future plans also include conducting handwriting -surveys and other data-collection/research/publication to document the current state of handwriting in the USA and other nations, and to make the public aware of the state of our handwriting.

Using handwriting-contest entries and other data on the state of handwriting worldwide, over the coming years WHC hopes to provide the public with listings of which nations/regions/cities show the most (and the least) legible handwriting.

(As opportunity offers, WHC may also conduct surveys/data-collection regarding other aspects of handwriting.)

Implementing these plans will depend on available funding, sponsorship, and public interest. Once WHC can implement these plans, we will post results to this site as they become available.

BECOME A SPONSOR

If you, your firm, or your organization would like to help the work of WHC (for instance, by providing prizes, publicity, contributions, and/or other forms of assistance or sponsorship), please contact:

Albany, New York 12206 USA

ATTENTION: SPONSORSHIP/SUPPORT

Again - we wish you

Good Luck ...

... and Happy Writing!