Two local children were among 13 students from Alabama as part of an elite group of elementary and middle school students across the country who have made a name for themselves as some of the best handwriters in America.

Makayla Lewis, a third-grader at Greensboro West Elementary School, and Christopher Taylor, a sixth-grader at Greensboro West Elementary, were among the 2009 state winners of the 18th annual Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest.

The students emerged as superior from about 200,000 entries representing grades 1-8 across the country.

Their entries were judged on the printing skills of first- and second-graders, and the cursive abilities of students in grades 2 through 8.

State winners were selected by a panel of professional handwriting experts.

All statewide winners will next pit their entries against each other in their respective grade levels to compete for national honors.

Ultimately, one of the national grade-level winners will be named as the grand national champion.

The teacher of the grand national champion also gets rewarded with a trip for two to Washington, D.C.