Dr. Colleen Grochowski Named LA Committee Vice-Chair

Dr. Colleen O'Connor Grochowski

Dr. Colleen O’Connor Grochowski was named the Lewis Award Committee Vice-Chair at the Award Committee’s meeting in Raleigh on August 19, 2010. Dr. Grochowski has been a member of the Lewis Award Committee since 2005, and will assume the duties held by Msgr. Gerald Lewis from the Award’s beginning in 1992. Msgr. Lewis has become the Vice-Chair Emeritus, and will remain as a permanent member of the Award Committee.

“In the last year, plans for an orderly transition from the Lewis Award’s founders to future generations of the Lewis Award Committee have begun to be put into place, and Colleen Grochowski is an important component of those plans”, said Mrs. Anne Stahel, Chair of the Award Committee. Dr. Grochowski, of Durham, is Associate Dean of Curricular Affairs and Assistant Professor of the Practice of Medical Education at Duke University School of Medicine. She is a member of Immaculate Conception Parish and is married with two sons in college.

Msgr. Gerald L. Lewis, the Award’s namesake and Pastor of St. Paul Parish in New Bern, said, “The continuation of the Lewis Award after Mrs. Stahel and I are no longer around is most important. After eighteen successful years of honoring our teachers it is important to plan for our future. I am pleased that Dr. Grochowski has agreed to accept the position of Vice-Chair.”

At the annual Principals Meeting held in Raleigh on August 6, 2010, Dr. Michael Fedewa, Superintendent of the Diocesan School System, commented that the Lewis Award has become a huge part of the school culture. Dr. Fedewa went on to say that the Award is one of the best things done for the teachers in the schools of the Diocese of Raleigh, and transition plans being implemented will help to assure the Lewis Award continues to honor our teachers.