Brief History of the Lewis Award
The Monsignor Gerald Lawrence Lewis
Award was endowed in 1992 to honor
outstanding educators and to recognize, promote and encourage teaching
excellence in the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Raleigh. The Excellence
in Teaching Award honors superlative teachers who have illustrated strong
commitment to their students, colleagues, and schools and to their family,
church and civic communities. The Recipient of the Excellence in Teaching
Award is an exceptionally skillful, dedicated classroom teacher. The
Excellence in Teaching Award is presented on an annual basis.
As the focus of the Excellence in Teaching Award is on classroom teachers, the Lewis Award for Lifetime Achievement in Catholic Education focuses on all areas of the education system. The Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award may be in administration, faculty or staff. The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented only when circumstances warrant; and as of June 2007, the Award has been presented to three individuals.
Designed from the outset to be a prestigious accolade to the Recipient, the intent of the Lewis Award is to honor those individuals who have shown a strong love for and commitment to their chosen vocation. To that end, the Award is structured to honor, in as meaningful a manner possible, those who excel at what they do.
The Award is named in honor of Monsignor Lewis, who served the Diocese of Raleigh for over four decades as priest, pastor, administrator and outstanding churchman in an era of unprecedented missionary work in the State of North Carolina. Although retired from active service to the Diocese, Monsignor Lewis continues to give of his time, talent and treasure to his church and beloved adopted state.