Iowa Students Support Shriners

More than 150 Iowa high school students will participate in the Iowa Shrine Bowl Game this summer.

Iowa Shrine Bowl officials recently announced rosters for the two teams in the all-star game — a total of 92 football players — and the game’s 60 cheerleaders. These student athletes will travel the the Twin Cities Children’s Hospital from their training camp to visit patients and learn firsthand the purpose of the Iowa Shrine Bowl Game.

The annual football game, now in its 37th year,  will be played July 25 at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. Contributions from this event total more than $2 million dollars in support of the Shrine Hospital programs for children.

The “Write” Stuff

The following students recently made a name for themselves– with their handwriting.

— Allison Hagensick, first grade student at East Elementary School in Waukon.

— Marry Crompton, third grade student at Regina Elementary School in Iowa City.

— Payton Evans, sixth grade student at Regina Elementary School in Iowa City.

— Campbell Mitvalsky, first grade student at St. Matthews School in Cedar Rapids.

— Stefanie Ramirez, second grade student at St. Matthews School in Cedar Rapids.

— Jack Rooney, fourth grade student at St. Matthews School in Cedar Rapids.

— Hunter Didriksen, fifth grade student at St. Matthews School in Cedar Rapids.

These students are the 2009 state winners of the 18th annual Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest. The students emerged as superior from about 200,000 national entries from students in first through eighth grades.

Entries were judged on the printing skills of first and second grade students, and the cursive abilities of second through eighth grade students. Winners were selected by a panel of professional handwriting experts.

All state winners will next pit their entries against each other in their respective grade level for national honors. One of the national grade level winners will be named Grand National Champion.