Penquis Valley School will welcome Paralympic athlete on Thursday

    MILO — Three Rivers Kiwanis of Milo and Brownville have sponsored a visit from a Paralympic athlete to the Penquis School on Thursday, March 5.
    Grades 6-12 will have an opportunity to hear Anjali Forber-Pratt, assistant research professor at the Beach Center on Disability and Kansas University Center for Developmental Disabilities at the University of Kansas.

    Dr. Forber-Pratt was also a member of Team USA at the 2008 and 2012 Paralympic Games.
    As a Paralympic medalist in the sport of wheelchair racing, she has dedicated her life to helping others recognize their potential. Globally, she is involved with disability advocacy efforts related to access to education, employment and sport through public speaking and media appearances.
    The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) has also recognized her leadership abilities by awarding her the prestigious 2013 Paul G. Hearne Leadership Award, given to emerging leaders within the national disability community.
    Dr. Forber-Pratt has appeared on several television programs and radio shows including: NPR; The Stream; and Sesame Street; and has been quoted in the national including The Boston Globe, New York Times, Huffington Post, USA Today, and Runner’s World.
    She was honored by the White House as a Champion of Change in 2013 and had an opportunity to participate in a roundtable discussion with President Obama about disability policy issues. 
    Forber-Pratt will speak Thursday, March 5 in the school gymnasium.
    After addressing the student body she will take part in the staff-led workshops presenting students with the opportunity to hear about many different outdoor topics from Penquis educators. Presentations will include: wilderness first aid, how to make an energy bar, cycling, and equipment options.
    This daylong event is an effort to prepare students for a trip to Millinocket on Friday, March 6 to participate in the Maine Outdoor Education Program (MOEP).
    MOEP offers school age children in grades 4-12 three instructional lifetime fitness activities per year, one per season in the fall, winter and spring.
    Penquis will also use this time to highlight their girl’s basketball team. The Lady Patriots were awarded the Eastern Maine Class C Girls’ Good Sportsmanship Banner, and the presentation will take place on March 5 in front of the entire student body, prior to the guest speaker.