READFIELD, Maine (AP) — A Maine youngster who entered a national penmanship contest is getting a category all his own. That’s because fifth-grader Nicholas Maxim’s neat handwriting comes without the use of hands.

The student at Readfield Elementary School is known for his penmanship, even though he was born without hands or lower arms. The judges at Zaner-Bloser in Columbus, Ohio, who sifted through 200,000 handwriting entries were so impressed that they created a new category for students with disabilities.

The 10-year-old learned that he was the winner of the first Nicholas Maxim Special Award for Excellent Penmanship at a school assembly on Monday.

Maxim enjoys creating comic strips with his best friend. Principal Cheryl Hasenfus says Maxim does most of his writing without benefit of a prosthesis.