Link Fifth Grader Speaks About Overcoming Disability

Link Elementary School student Amanda Pivonka won first place in the Modern Woodsmen of America speech contest hosted by the Clarkstown School District. The fifth grader read the speech she wrote on the topic of students who overcome at Thursday night’s school board meeting. Pivonka explained how she has dealt with having Bilateral Radial Aplasia, which affects formation of the radius bone in her arms.

“I have learned to treat every person I meet as an individual,” read Pivonka. 

Pivonka’s parents and staff members, who work with her, attended her presentation, which received a standing ovation.  

Assistant Superintendent of Instruction & Professional Development Dr. Valerie Henning-Piedmonte explained the district participates in the national contest with individual competitions in each school, which select first, second and third place winners. The first place winners from each school then competed for first place district wide.