Shebitz, Pirrone live on through words

Six District 24 students can call themselves award-winning writers after they were recognized for their work in a pair of essay contests at the May 28 Board of Education meeting.

Before the regular agenda, numerous awards were handed out to students for their writing and art work. The district hosts two memorial essay contests each year, with one winner chosen from each of the three elementary schools.

The George Shebitz Memorial Essay Contest is named for the school district’s former attorney, who died in 2006. He was a Thomas Jefferson scholar, and fifth-graders, who study American history, are asked to write an essay about the nation’s third president.

The winners were Leslie Umana from the Brooklyn Avenue School, Ava Copertino of the William L. Buck School, and Abigail Hartig of the Robert W. Carbonaro School. Each received a certificate and $50.

The essays were judged by the district’s three librarians, Carbonaro Principal Rosario Iacono and Shebitz’s son, Adam.

Adam Shebitz, who was joined last week by his mother, Randi, said he is consistently impressed with the quality of the essays. “This year was no exception,” he said.

The Diana Pirrone Memorial Essay Contest is sponsored by Friends of Bridge, a substance abuse treatment facility in Valley Stream. It is named in honor of the district’s former assistant superintendent, who died in 2009. She was active in Friends of Bridge, as well as several other community organizations.

This year’s winners were sixth-graders Evan Miller from Brooklyn Avenue, Matthew Sheinin from Buck and Jacob Piccioli from Carbonaro. They each received a certificate and a $100 check. Their names will also be added to a plaque that hangs in each school that includes past winners.

The essays were judged by Curriculum Director Dr. Lisa Conte, the school librarians and representatives from Friends of Bridge, including President Linda Pizzolo, Vice President Kathy Bogle and Past President Ida D’Angelo.

Miller said he wrote about the importance of avoiding drug use for his essay. He noted that his piece included a simulated conversation between two friends, where one tries to get the other to use drugs. “I knew my essay was very unique,” he said. “Anyone who is doing drugs is foolish because they’re basically harming their body.”

Several children also received awards for their art projects. Throughout the year, student artwork has been selected for the Art in the Heart, Portfolio Project, Colors of Long Island and New York Legislative shows. Much of the student artwork was on display throughout the room.

ART AWARDS