Congratulations to the 2024-2025 Winners of the Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest

March 2, 2025: In recognition of Read Across America Day, we are excited to announce the first, second, and third place top readers of the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest. Thank you to all the participants who made this a fantastic contest. 

Here are the 2024-2025 Braille Readers Are Leaders Winners:

Youth Winners

K – 1st Grade

1st Place is Sawyer S. of Georgia with 3, 244 minutes
2nd Place is Charity B. of Louisiana with 1,024 minutes
3rd Place is Sophia S. of Louisiana with 1,017 minutes

2nd – 3rd Grade 

1st Place is Luise S. of Virginia with 3,021 minutes
2nd Place is Juniper E. of New York with 2,894 minutes
3rd Place is Mila H. of Minnesota with 1,615 minutes 

4th – 5th Grade

1st Place is Mila C. of California with 2,958 minutes
2nd Place is Promise M. of California with 2,784 minutes 
3rd Place is Lucy S. of Illinois with 1,225 minutes 

6th – 8th Grade

1st Place is Narjis K. of Louisiana with 9,324 minutes 
2nd Place is Princess R. of Georgia with 3,011 minutes
3rd Place is Hailey K. of Indiana with 2,184 minutes

9th – 12th Grade

1st Place is Amare L. of North Carolina with 10,329 minutes
2nd Place is Meredith D. of Maryland with 3,520 minutes 
3rd Place is Nadiya A. of Ohio with 3,190 minutes

Adult Contest Winners

Adult Novice

1st Place is Naima Leigh of Georgia with 20,760 minutes
2nd Place is Alfonso Simental of Colorado with 15,425 minutes 
3rd Place is Donna Casteen of Colorado with 7,716 minutes 

Adult Intermediate

1st Place is BJ Snyder of New York with 16,105 minutes 
2nd Place is Michelle Mills of Ohio with 7,020 minutes 
3rd Place is Alexis Payne of Washington with 6,886 minutes 

Adult Expert

1st Place is Cassandra Xavier of Massachusetts with 25,505 minutes
2nd Place is Anna Trotman of Alabama with 15,280 minutes 
3rd Place is Shane Popplestone of Ohio with 15,178 minutes 

Teachers

1st Place is Alyson Romine of Texas with 3,042 minutes
2nd Place is Sarah Savell of Louisiana with 1,771 minutes 
3rd Place is Krystal Guillory of Louisiana with 1,223 minutes 

Grand Prize Drawing!

The Polly, an electronic, Braille learning device from American Printing House goes to E. Thom of Louisiana
The Chameleon 20, a 20-cell refreshable Braille display from American Printing House goes to H. Kerlee of Indiana
The BT Speak, a pocket computer designed for the blind from Blazie Technologies goes to Anita Say of California

Congratulations!

Thank you to all participants and supporters. There will be another Braille Readers Are Leaders contest during the 2024-2025 school year. The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults is pleased to partner with the National Federation of the Blind to strengthen Braille literacy and to create opportunities to put Braille in the hands of blind children and adults.