CHARLOTTE — Charlotte Catholic High School recently recognized the 2018 winners of the Sister Paulette Williams Awards for Outstanding Service. The awards were presented at the Commencement Exercises May 31 at Bojangles’ Coliseum, and the winners were honored in front of the home crowd at the annual Cook Cup rivalry game against Charlotte Country Day School Aug. 31.
The 2018 winners are Dee Bier (mathematics), Carmen Garmilla (world languages), Margaret Kennedy (theology), Jean Pendleton (social studies), and Marcus Riter (theatre). Each winner was presented with a check for $5,000 from the foundation.
In 2016, the Charlotte Catholic High School Foundation established the Sister Paulette Williams Awards to recognize members of the Charlotte Catholic faculty whose exceptional dedication, knowledge and commitment inspires students to learn. These are teachers who consider the whole student, and encourage them to be their best in all aspects of their lives. They exhibit the best qualities of faith and mercy in their interaction with students as well as with colleagues. They consistently go above and beyond, making a difference in the lives of students and the school community.
The foundation chose to name the awards in honor of Mercy Sister Paulette Williams, who played a key role in establishing the basis for Catholic education in Charlotte. She was a teacher at Charlotte Catholic for five years, assistant principal for two years, and principal for 20 years.
“Her leadership, dedication, guidance, and vision built our school into what you recognize today – a community leader in academics, arts, and athletics,” said current Principal Kurt Telford.
Any current member of the CCHS community – teachers, staff, parent and students – may nominate a faculty member for the Sister Paulette Awards. All are encouraged to participate, and each year more than 50 nominations are received. A five-person committee, consisting of two CCHS Foundation board members, two past Sister Paulette Award winners, and one administrator, review the nominations and recommend the award winners to the CCHS Foundation Board for confirmation.
“We congratulate these dedicated teachers,” Telford said. “These awards validate, honor, and encourage these educators. They are an expression of thanks for all these teachers do every day, above and beyond what is expected, to make a difference in the lives of our young people and our school community.”
— Carolyn Tillman and Margaret Kennedy