NCEA Honor Recognizes Excellence in Catholic Education

Ten Pastors Honored for Outstanding Support of Catholic Education -

Ten pastors will receive the 2012 Distinguished Pastor Award from the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) during a ceremony at its annual convention April 11–13 in Boston, Mass.

NCEA established the Distinguished Pastor Award to acknowledge the exceptional contributions and leadership of pastors in elementary education. Honorees, nominated by diocesan school superintendents, provide strong spiritual guidance to the school community, participate in school activities and display a clear philosophy of Catholic education.

"Pastors provide support that is vital to maintaining excellent Catholic schools, both through their spiritual leadership and their efforts to work closely with the school community," said Christian Brother Robert Bimonte, executive director of the NCEA Department of Elementary Schools. "In honoring these individuals, we acknowledge the many pastors across the country who give so much to assure outstanding Catholic education in their communities."

Winners of the 2012 Distinguished Pastor Award include the following:

Father Ralph Caputo, St. Bernard Parish, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Father Daniel Gartland, Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception and St. Lawrence Church, Lafayette, Ind.
Father Joseph Gatto, St. Gregory the Great Parish, Williamsville, N.Y.
Father Dominic Grassi, St. Gertrude Parish, Chicago, Ill.
Msgr. Joseph Hendricks, St. Brigid of Kildare Parish, Dublin, Ohio
Msgr. Michael Heras, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Corpus Christi, Texas
Father Daniel Lamothe, Parish of the Holy Spirit and Mary, Queen of Peace Parish, Keene, N.H.
Father Thomas Molini, St. Gerard Majella Parish, Kirkwood, Mo.
Father Gerald Riva, St. Scholastica Parish, Woodridge, Ill.
Father Ric Schneider, St. Mary's Parish, Bloomington, Ill.

Eleven Catholic Elementary School Principals Achieve National Recognition

Eleven outstanding Catholic elementary school principals will receive the 2012 Distinguished Principal Award from the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) during a ceremony at its annual convention April 11–13 in Boston, Mass.

Chosen from a pool of more than 6,000 principals throughout the country, the award winners were nominated by their diocesan superintendents. Colleagues, parents and students supported each nomination with letters describing the principals' leadership qualities and contributions to Catholic education and their communities.

"Our award winners demonstrate inspirational leadership, dedication to academic excellence and a strong commitment to offering their communities quality, faith-based education," said Christian Brother Robert Bimonte, executive director of the NCEA Department of Elementary Schools. "These distinguished principals embody the very best of Catholic education in this country."

Winners of the 2012 Distinguished Principal Award include the following:

John Bennett, St. Aloysius Catholic School, Baton Rouge, La.
Terry Chapman, Our Lady of the Visitation School, Cincinnati, Ohio
Patricia Devanney, St. Anthony School, Winsted, Conn.
William Geasor, Salve Regina Academy, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Kimberly Hermsen, Mazzuchelli Catholic Middle School, Dubuque, Iowa
Mary Kilar, St. John the Baptist School, Whitewater, Wis.
Sheila Martinez, Our Lady of Victory School, Washington, D.C.
Nancy Matteo, St. Andrew School, Newtown, Pa.
Kathleen Murphy, Corpus Christi School, Piedmont, Calif.
Suzette Williams, Catholic School of St. Eugene, Oklahoma, Okla.
Kathleen Wollan, Nativity of Our Lord Catholic School, St. Paul, Minn.

NCEA Honor Recognizes Excellence in Catholic Education

Twelve outstanding Catholic elementary school teachers have earned the 2012 Distinguished Teacher Award from the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). They will be honored at an awards ceremony during the association's annual convention April 11–13 in Boston, Mass.

The award winners were selected from a pool of more than 100,000 teachers in 12 regions across the country. Nominated by their diocesan superintendents, the teachers were also endorsed by colleagues, parents and students who wrote letters describing their outstanding work in Catholic education.

"Our Distinguished Teacher Award winners have demonstrated exceptional ability, dedication and results as Catholic educators," said Robert Bimonte, executive director of the NCEA Department of Elementary Schools. "They also have earned the high regard of the peers, students and parents they work with every day. In honoring these teachers, we acknowledge the outstanding teachers in all Catholic elementary schools."

The following will receive the 2012 Distinguished Teacher Award:

Sandy Anderson, St. John's Area School, Foley, Minn.
Deborah Colina, St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic School, Cincinnati, Ohio
Heidi Cozzolino, St. Pius X School, Westerly, R.I.
Phyllis Dries, St. Patrick Catholic School, Louisville, Ky.
Kimberly Elpers, Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School, Haubstadt, Ind.
Cheryl Mitchell Guess, St. Vincent de Paul School, San Diego, Calif.
Colleen Linke, Catholic School of St. Eugene, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Roberta Meringolo, St. Bernadette School, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Kolleen Murray, All Saints Catholic School, Spokane, Wash.
Nora Sheets, St. Francis de Sales Central Catholic School, Morgantown, W.Va.
Donna Urmey, St. Joseph Grade School, Toms River, N.J.
Donna Walter, St. Pius X/St. Leo School, Omaha, Neb.

About the Convention

NCEA's annual convention—which draws educators, administrators, catechists, pastors and parents from throughout the nation—will offer informative sessions, liturgies and networking opportunities. The event at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center will also feature an exhibition of educational products and services from more than 300 companies.

Keynote speakers will include Father Ron Rolheiser, president of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas, and Dr. Mary McDonald, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Memphis, Tenn. Father J. Bryan Hehir, Harvard University professor and secretary of health and social services for the Archdiocese of Boston, will deliver the convention's closing address.

The convocation of the National Association of Parish Catechetical Directors and the annual meeting of the Catholic Library Association will take place concurrently with the NCEA convention.

NCEA, founded in 1904, is a professional membership organization that provides leadership, direction and service to fulfill the evangelizing, catechizing and teaching mission of the church. NCEA's members include elementary schools, high schools, parish religious education programs and seminaries.

NCEA Elementary Department Announces 2012 Distinguished Pastor, Principal, and Teacher Awards