The Lewis Award

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In Remembrance, Mrs. Marilyn Misa Ferguson

In Remembrance, Mrs. Marilyn Misa Ferguson

by | Aug 14, 2019 | News

Marilyn Misa FergusonMarilyn Misa Ferguson, the 2000-2001 Recipient of the Monsignor Gerald Lawrence Lewis Award for Excellence in Teaching, passed away on August 6, 2019.

Prior to marrying her high school sweetheart, Bob, in 2010, Mrs. Misa Ferguson taught Third Grade for 23 years at St. Thomas More Catholic School, Chapel Hill. In a note for the Lewis Award 25th Anniversary she wrote that

“my years at St. Thomas More were the most rewarding years of my life and receiving the Lewis Award was the proudest moment of my teaching career. I surely do miss STM and all of the wonderful children with whom I came in contact during all those years.”

At the time of her death she and her husband lived in the Pacific Northwest.

The Monsignor Gerald Lawrence Lewis Award for Excellence in Teaching Endowed by Anne Williams Stahel in January 1992

The Monsignor Gerald Lawrence Lewis Award for Excellence in Teaching Endowed by Anne Williams Stahel in January 1992

by | Aug 2, 2019 | Interesting Tidbits

The Award was initiated by Anne Stahel to give Monsignor Lewis a meaningful expression of her immeasurable gratitude for his unwavering pastoral support and friendship through times of family tragedy and multiple personal losses. As Anne very succinctly puts it “he was marrying, burying and being part of the Stahel and Williams families”, a friendship that spans over 50 years.

The expression of gratitude evolved into an idea for the Award endowment modeled on a class project of Anne’s late husband’s Princeton roommate, Ralph Nader, and his classmates. Identify an unaddressed need and move it forward. Anne embraced the idea, focused on the Diocese of Raleigh and through much discussion realized there was nothing in place to honor exceptional teachers in the Catholic Schools. So began the Monsignor Gerald Lawrence Lewis Award for Excellence in Teaching. Since the first Award was presented on Monsignor’s 60th Birthday in 1992 there have been 28 outstanding educators who have been recipients as well as 9 Lifetime Achievement Awards presented for significant commitment and contribution to Catholic Schools.

Click here to read the full moving story of the Genesis of the Lewis Award

Consider nominating an exceptional teacher who has touched your lives or the lives of your children. The nomination period for the 2019-2020 Lewis Award will begin September 1 and end September 30. Forms will be available on this website.

Lewis Award Announcement 2018-2019

Lewis Award Announcement 2018-2019

by | Mar 18, 2019 | Excellence in Teaching, News

laurie-huger-2018-2019-lewis-award-finalistMrs. Laurie Huger

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, Raleigh

The Lewis Award Committee is pleased to announce that Mrs. Laurie Huger has been selected as the 2018-2019 Recipient of the Monsignor Gerald Lawrence Lewis Award for Excellence in Teaching. Mrs. Huger is in her twenty-fifth year of teaching with the last seventeen years as a Third Grade Teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Raleigh.

Mrs. Huger feels that teachers striving for excellence in Catholic schools should

“Let your students see you experiment and let them help you. Always have a plan A and B, your students deserve to learn from a prepared teacher. Experiential learning is what they will remember the most. Tell them stories about yourself because this helps them discern their vocation.”

In one letter of recommendation for the Award the parent of a former student wrote:

“Laurie’s work is work that matters. Whether it’s encouraging a student struggling with third grade math, coaching a middle school team through a nail-biter, or hosting a dinner of 100 athletes willing to learn about healthy relationships and what love is all about, she is having an impact on her community, one student, one athlete, one team and one tournament at a time… She embodies ‘message’, ‘community’, ‘service’ and ‘liturgy’ in everything she does.”

Beyond the classroom Mrs. Huger exhibits her exemplary characteristics through involvement not only in school, but also in the parish and broader community. Her activities include: membership in the Raleigh Chapter of the International Reading Association; inaugural member of the OLL Community Garden; volunteer coordinator for NC Catholics Volunteer; six year member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Council; founder and coach of the middle school girls soccer team; coordinator for the annual Summer Lacrosse Camp; co-chair of the annual One Love Lacrosse Play-day to benefit the One Love Foundation; and, host for the Christmas Lacrosse Clinic, with proceeds that benefit Catholic Paris Outreach.

Mrs. Huger received a Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology from James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia; and, a Master of Arts in Education for the Hearing Impaired from Gallaudet University, Washington, DC.

The Lewis Award will be presented to Mrs. Huger at a special Liturgy on April 10 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.

Congratulations, Mrs. Huger!

Meet the Finalists: Julie Cummins

Meet the Finalists:
Julie Cummins

by | Feb 14, 2019 | Excellence in Teaching, News

Julie Cummins, St. Patrick Catholic School, FayettevilleIn January the Lewis Award Committee announced the Finalists for the 2018-2019 Monsignor Gerald L. Lewis Award for Excellence in Teaching. During the month of February, the Lewis Award Committee will observe the three Finalists in their classrooms and each of them will be featured on this website. If you would like to read more about these exceptional teachers click here.

Mrs. Julie Cummins

St. Patrick Catholic School, Fayetteville

First Grade Teacher

The pictures highlight Mrs. Cummins First Grade Religion class learning about the Sacrament of Baptism through hands on activities. They focused on the significance of the holy water, the Baptismal gown and the presentation of the Baptismal candle.

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