The 2016 Regional Iowa Braille Challenge, a unique event that highlights the importance of braille reading and writing and celebrates Iowa braille readers, was a great success. The competition was held on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at the Department for the Blind in Des Moines, Iowa. Twenty-one students from across Iowa matched their braille skills in their age groups and helped to advance the cause of braille literacy. To supplement the Challenge, STEAM curriculum was presented through exhibits and activity tables that highlighted services and resources offered by IDB and partner organizations. Dr. Cary Supalo, Ph.D., a blind scientist and educator, delivered an excellent keynote address as well as participating in an informative session for parents in which he joined four other blind professionals speaking to the topic "What I wish my parents would have known..."

Here are the results of this year's Iowa Braille Challenge:

Rookie Group
1st place--Emily Brown
2nd place--Rachel Hurt
3rd place--Jordan Danks

Apprentice Group (Grades 1-2)
1st place--Kayla Bartholomew
2nd place--Tayler Soppe
3rd place--Kyle Simmons

Freshman Group- (Grades 3-4)
1st place--Emily Groves
2nd place--Zachary Nolin

Sophomore Group- (Grades 5-6)
1st place--Brogan Malcolm
2nd place--Lydia Groenendyk
3rd place--Angela Wittrock

Junior Varsity Group- (Grades 7-9)
1st place--Sawyer Deevers
2nd place--Shae Cleveland
3rd place--Drew Rigby-Pick

Varsity Group- (Grades 10-12)
1st place-- Elizabeth Rouse
2nd place--Jose Gabriel Urbano Cortes
3rd place-- James Cheek