Updated 5/28/2021 6:36 AM Even from behind a mask, the smile on Rhys Acas' face was obvious when the St. Thomas More Catholic School kindergartner was called to the front of his class Thursday. The Rev. Ryan Browning waited for him, holding the object that was making Rhys light up -- his trophy for being named the kindergarten-level winner of the Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest.
Held annually for the past 30 years, the contest is open to all students in kindergarten through eighth grade and attracts approximately 80,000 entries a year. Rhys was the only winner from Illinois this year. He's also the first student from St. Thomas More to win nationally in the nine years the school has participated in the contest.