First grader wins penmanship award, despite being born without hands

[Anaya Ellick has learned how to adapt to the world around her, with remarkable success/Twitter]

A first grade student from Greenbrier Christian Academy in Virginia has been awarded the Nicholas Maxim Special Award for Excellence in Manuscript Penmanship, beating out 300,000 other students with her impeccable writing skills.

Anaya Ellick was born without hands and chooses not to use prosthetics. Instead, she uses what she’s got and make no excuses about it.

“Anaya is a remarkable young lady. She does not let anything get in the way of doing what she has set out to do,” said her principal, Tracy Cox.

Joan Stalnaker, a first grade teacher, admits she was concerned about how the girl would fare in a regular classroom.

“It was the first time that I have ever had a student like this, but I was very shocked at everything she can do, from cutting to gluing to writing,” said Stalnaker.

Despite being born without hands, Ellick has learned that it is probably easier to adapt to the world around her, than the other way around.

“It may be different, it may be hard, the road may be long, but she will persevere,” Bianca Middleton, Ellick’s mom, said.

While Middleton is proud of her daughter’s achievements, she isn’t surprised.

“…People always say ‘oh my gosh she is beyond her years how she speaks, everything that she does,’“ added Middleton.