They wrote, they won

In District 24, those who make an impact in the lives of children are never forgotten. Two people in particular are still making a difference even though they have passed on.

Diana Pirrone, the former principal of the William L. Buck School and assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, died in 2009 after a battle with cancer. But her name is heard every May, as awards are presented for an essay contest in her honor.

On May 29, the winners of the Friends of Bridge Diana Pirrone essay contest were recognized by the Board of Education. Sixth-grade students wrote essays about the dangers of substance abuse and the importance of making healthy choices.

Pirrone was a member of Friends of Bridge, a substance abuse treatment facility in Valley Stream.

The winners of the essay contest were Wayne Chen from the Robert W. Carbonaro School, Bailey Hamilton from Buck and Victoria Konieczny from the Brooklyn Avenue School. Her brother, Filip, won the award last year. The name of each winner will be added to a plaque in their respective schools.

On hand to present the award from Friends of Bridge were President Linda Pizzolo, Vice President Kathy Bogle and past President Ida D’Angelo. Each student received a certificate and a check.

Three fifth-graders were winners of the George Shebitz Recognition Award, named for the district’s former attorney who died in 2006. Students had to write an essay about Thomas Jefferson, a historical figure who Shebitz studied closely.

“When he passed away, we felt this would be an outstanding way to memorialize him and to have his spirit stay with us in the school,” Superintendent Dr. Edward Fale said of Shebitz.

The winners were Jessica Sierzega from Brooklyn Avenue, Meghan Casey from Buck and Jakob Piccioli from Carbonaro.

The essays were graded by teachers and administrators based on specific criteria. Shebitz’s wife, Randi, and son, Adam, helped present the awards. “This was truly an outstanding class,” Adam Shebitz said. “The essays were just phenomenal.”

Antira Butler from New York Elks Lodge No. 1 presented awards to winners in its drug awareness poster and essay contest. There were four state winners, all from Carbonaro — Jaci Baijnath, Daniel Mendez, Aleena Nabeel and Brandon Pierre.

More than 30 students received art awards for the Art in the Heart and Legislative exhibits, and their portfolio projects, presented by Jane Berzner and Laura Donovan.