First-Place Winner Biographies 2011

Apprentice Category: Grades 1-2

8-year-old Kendra is a first time finalist to the Braille Challenge. She attends second grade at Hawthorne Elementary School. Kendra is active and enjoys swimming, gymnastics, yoga and dancing.  Her creativity shows through while writing stories, creating art and doing recording projects.

As the first place Apprentice winner, she receives a $1,000 savings bond and her choice of either a PAC Mate Omni™ accessible Pocket PC or Focus 40 Blue Braille Display donated by Freedom Scientific.

Freshman Category: Grades 3-4

10-year-old Ahbee is a second-time finalist and first-place winner in the 2009 Braille Challenge. She attends fourth grade at Deer Creek Elementary School where she has garnered many awards, such as Spelling Bee District runner up, essay contest winner two years running, and top three reader in the Braille Readers are Leaders programs. Ahbee spends her free time playing piano, dancing and swimming.

As the first place Freshman winner, she receives a $2,000 savings bond and her choice of either a PAC Mate Omni™ accessible Pocket PC or Focus 40 Blue Braille Display donated by Freedom Scientific.

Sophomore Category: Grades 5-6

12-year-old Lauren is a six-time finalist and a 2007 and 2010 Braille Challenge winner. She will be attending seventh grade at Earlham Community School, where she will be on the volleyball team in the fall.  Lauren enjoys math and science in school and is an avid reader. When she’s not busy writing stories, Lauren is also a young musician. She plays trumpet and baritone tuba in her school band. When she isn’t in school, Lauren can be found riding her bike, swimming, playing basketball, ice-skating and skiing.  Lauren’s travel plans include going to Greece now that she has learned the Greek alphabet.

As the first place Sophomore winner, she receives a $3,000 savings bond and her choice of either a PAC Mate Omni™ accessible Pocket PC or Focus 40 Blue Braille Display donated by Freedom Scientific.

Junior Varsity Category: Grades 7-9

Tiffany Zhao of Temple City, California

Tiffany is 15 years old and is a nine-time finalist and a three-time Braille Challenge winner. She will be entering tenth grade at Temple City High School. Tiffany also speaks Mandarin and Spanish, and has begun learning Spanish braille. She loves to play the piano, which she has done for nine years. Tiffany is an active volunteer at her church, cooking up her specialties for her youth group events. Her favorite outdoor activities include running, swimming, hiking and bicycling. Tiffany recently won in her division during Cane Quest, an orientation & mobility competition hosted by Braille Institute.

As the first place Junior Varsity winner, she receives a $4,000 savings bond and her choice of either a PAC Mate Omni™ accessible Pocket PC or Focus 40 Blue Braille Display donated by Freedom Scientific.

Varsity Category: Grades 10-12

16-year-old Rima is a six-time finalist and a 2008 Braille Challenge winner. She will be a senior at Scarlett High School. Rima spends her free time reading adventure novels, writing poems, singing, swimming and playing goalball. She currently plays center on the Alberta Provincial Goalball Team, who won a team silver medal in the junior and senior nationals. Rima has been invited to be a member of the Canadian Junior National Goalball Team and will be attending Junior Worlds in Colorado. She recently got “carded”: Rima received a government sports related stipend for athletes who are training for the paraOlympic or Olympic team. Rima dreams of a career in geophysics.

As the first place Varsity winner, she receives a $5,000 savings bond and her choice of either a PAC Mate Omni™ accessible Pocket PC or Focus 40 Blue Braille Display donated by Freedom Scientific. Rima also receives a custom-made, high quality brailled shirt from Alice Lynch of Brailletshirts.com. Her name will also be placed on the perpetual trophy.