Senator Hassan Recognizes First-Grade Students of Campton Elementary as April’s Granite Staters of the Month

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan recognized first-grade students of Campton Elementary as April's Granite Stater of the Month for their efforts to learn American Sign Language to better communicate with their fellow classmate, Ben.

As the only deaf student at Campton Elementary, Ben is assisted in the classroom by a certified teacher of the deaf, Cheryl Ulicny. As Ben's classmates got to know him, some of his friends wanted to learn how to sign to better communicate with Ben and grow closer to him. This motivated the class to take on the challenge to learn American Sign Language, through a mix of lessons from Cheryl, a certified teacher of the deaf, a staff "ASL Club", and everyday conversations with Ben.

Now, almost every student and staff member at Campton Elementary knowing at least a sign or two. The determination of the first-grade class at Campton Elementary represents the Granite State spirit of valuing contributions of all our citizens and fully including everyone in our communities, and is why Senator Hassan named them April's Granite Staters of the Month.

Senator Hassan launched the "Granite Stater of the Month" initiative in 2017 to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their communities stronger. To nominate a New Hampshire citizen to be a "Granite Stater of the Month," constituents can complete the nomination form here.

To read Senator Hassan's statement for the Congressional Record, see below.

I am honored to recognize the first-grade students at Campton Elementary as April's Granite Staters of the Month. The Campton students are learning American Sign Language to help communicate with and include one of their classmates, Ben, who is deaf.

Ben is the only deaf student at Campton Elementary and participates in class with the help of a teacher's aide and Cheryl Ulicny, who is a certified teacher of the deaf. As Ben's classmates have gotten to know him, some of his friends wanted to learn how to sign as a way to better include Ben and grow closer to him. Quickly, the entire class decided to take on the challenge and started to learn American Sign Language, through a mix of lessons from Cheryl and everyday conversations with Ben. The practice has spread beyond first grade too, and staff throughout the building meet up at what they call "ASL Club" to learn and practice their signing skills. Today, almost every student and staff member at Campton Elementary knows at least a sign or two.

The first-grade students at Campton Elementary embody the Granite State spirit of valuing the contributions of all our citizens and working to fully include everyone in our communities. Their work to learn American Sign Language is why I am glad to name them April's Granite Staters of the Month.

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