Emma Hudson was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis in 2001 and the following year she and her family started Emma’s Angels, a group that raises money for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
As of the end of 2010, Emma Hudson’s mother, Sheila Hudson, .
On Tuesday morning, the group donated an additional $5,692 to the foundation as Emma Hudson graduated from Link Elementary School.
Hudson, along with fellow graduates and members of Emma’s Angels Leanne Karnbad and Aideen Farry, presented a large check to a representative from the foundation, who said it was the largest amount donated from an elementary school.
The three were part of the group of 73 fifth-graders who graduated Tuesday from Link in a ceremony held at Clarkstown High School South.
“Together with your family, the teachers and staff have given you the foundation for your future, a future that holds your dreams and your aspirations,” said Link Principal Francine Cuccia. “As you build on that foundation, continue to work hard in school, respect others and yourself, embrace and listen to your family and believe in yourself. Remember how many times we say ‘family.’ Your family, they are your truest and your most valuable companions. Listen to them, seek their wisdom and trust in what they say, they’ve lived through it before.”
Before the students arrived via bus from Link, the assembled crowd in the South auditorium watched the class video projected onto a large screen. The video showed highlights from the graduates’ final year of elementary school, as well as current pictures of each student with a baby photo.
The class sang the national anthem and their class song. Link alumnus Adam Glob played piano and sang a song he wrote called “Ready To Fly.”
The guest speaker for the graduation was another former Link student, Josh Berg, who is graduating from Clarkstown South High School this year.
“Throughout these past 13 years, I’ve been given many valuable opportunities in Clarkstown, all of which have enriched my educational experience and helped me become the person I am today,” he said. “As you prepare to leave Link and move onto Felix Festa, many of these opportunities will present themselves to you. As doors open, you must walk through them.”
Berg recounted some of his favorite memories from Link, such as searching for fossils in the woods, dropping an egg off the roof to see if it would break and Field Day. It was at Link that Berg first learned to love the outdoors, a love that grew and led to him to go hiking in Alaska when he was 15-years-old. Berg spent the last three summers hiking in Alaska, although most have only heard about last summer.
While hiking in Alaska last year, Berg was , losing almost half his blood and requiring eight hours of surgery.
“In a matter of seconds, I had become entirely dependent on other people to take care of me and to treat my injuries. While I waited for help to arrive, there were hundreds of different thoughts racing through my mind, and one of these thoughts continues to stick with me today as I speak to you: have I done enough for others?” he said. “It wasn’t until a day-and-a-half after the attack that I was able to realize the significance of what had happened to me. So many people helped me, my fellow hikers, the Alaska State Troopers, the doctors and nurses. Each one of them gave something of themselves to make me better, to help me recover from my injuries.”
Berg said he’s healed now and looking forward to college, although he noted he will miss his hometown as well.
“As I move onto college, part of me does not want to leave Clarkstown. Part of me wishes I could be in your very shoes, about to begin Felix Festa all over again, to embark on a journey that will shape your future in ways you can’t even imagine right now,” he told the Link graduates. “You will have many experiences in your life, some good, some not so good. Either way, you should learn from each one.”
Link Elementary Class of 2012
Mrs. Clancy’s Class
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- Chelsea Adams
- Joseph Beutel
- John Booth
- Joseph Carelli
- Joseph Caterino
- Christopher Danyiuk
- Carly Donoghue
- Shawn Gifford
- Kole Koenig
- Jean Marie Kyvik
- Gloria Lee
- Liran Maayani
- Ryan McAndrew
- Ashley McDonlad
- Andie Mechanic
- Alex Oberman
- Isabella Rabedeua
- Conor Ratchford
- John Ricciardi
- Jolie Scerbo
- Joseph Shine
- Joanne Stirrup
- Ashley Swann
- Sean Treacy
- Joshua Tyles
Mrs. Prendergast’s Class
- Justin Alejandro
- Justin Aurecchione
- Victoria Babiarz
- Anthony Baldino
- Anthony Campise
- Corinne Connell
- Nina Conti
- Kevin Diaz
- Jessica Elias
- Aideen Farry
- Julia Fitzmaurice
- James Giorgio
- Emma Hudson
- Anthony Kalb
- Lily Keenan
- Sejal Mathur
- Matthew Mikulka
- Arianna Milich
- Cassidy Mitru
- Danielle Monroe
- Patrick Murphy
- Jessica O’Brien
- Christopher Paulson
- Derek Schoeps
Mrs. Rudden’s Class
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- Olivia Barkley
- Vicki Cheung
- Rachel Cinque
- Caroline Cuddy
- Matthew Donegan
- Jake Dorfman
- John Ferraro
- Vivian Finck
- Jade Garrison
- Joseph Heim
- Gideon Kabatt
- Leanne Karnbad
- Colleen Kelly
- Kristian Martinez
- Ernika Merilus
- Michael O’Malley
- Lauren O’Sullivan
- Anthony Pallatta
- Jessica Palmer
- Daniel Philip
- Peter Redding
- Michael Ro
- Matthew Walter
- Emily Zapata
Awards
Presidential Gold Award:
- Derek Schoeps
- Joanne Stirrup
- Olivia Barkley
- Jake Dorfman
- Lauren O’Sullivan
Presidential Silver Award:
- Jessica O’Brien
- Sejal Mathur
- Chelsea Adams
- Liran Maayani
- Joshua Tyles
- Andie Mechanic
- Carly Donoghue
- Vivian Finck
- Jessica Palmer
- Michael Ro
- Vicki Cheung
Global Citizen & Leadership
- Vivian Finck
- Jake Dorfman
- Ashley McDonlad
- Joanne Stirrup
- Leanne Karnbad
- Emma Hudson
- Aideen Farry
