Abstract: Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein include devices for sterilizing items, particularly hand-held writing implements, using ultraviolet radiation. Other useful features of the sterilizer embodiments include a no touch proximity sensor for opening the lid to access sterilization ports and any items within the ports, automatic descent of the items into the sterilizer and closure of the lid for a preselected sterilization cycle without the lid binding on the items in the ports.