Kye Shrum, sixth grader at Perry Elementary, competed in the 2024 Oklahoma Regional Braille Challenge hosted by the Oklahoma School for the Blind.
The Braille Challenge is a national program sponsored by the Braille Institute of America, a nonprofit organization that eliminates barriers caused by blindness and severe sight loss. It is the only academic competition of its kind held in January through March each year for students who are blind or visually impaired. Braille Institute developed the Braille Challenge to motivate students to practice and hone their braille literacy skills, which are essential to academic and employment success.
The Regional contest was held on Wednesday, March 6 at the Oklahoma School for the Blind in Muskogee. There are several categories in the competition. Contestants in the apprentice, freshman, and transition categories completed braille tests in spelling, reading comprehension and proofreading. Contestants in the sophomore, junior varsity and varsity contestants answered questions about charts and graphs, reading comprehension and proofreading, and listened and transcribed passages into braille.
Shrum dominated and brought home a gold medal in his division.
Pictured with Shrum is Mrs. Cynthia Lumpkin, a vision consultant who works with him at school.
“Kye is a friend to everyone and is loved so well by our students and staff. This contest is something he looks forward to every year and we all rally around him to support his efforts,” commented Jordan Bolay, Director of Special Services at Perry Public Schools. “He works so hard and we are very proud of him on this accomplishment!”
Kye Shrum is the son of Colby and Kayla Shrum, and brother to Alliyah.