January 26, 2007

St. Barnabas School fourth grade teacher honored at

Celebrate Catholic Education dinner

A veteran Catholic elementary school teacher was honored at the “Celebrate Catholic Education” dinner Thursday, Jan. 25 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in downtown Buffalo. Cheryl Schmelzer, a fourth grade teacher at St. Barnabas School in Depew, received the Sister Lucille Socciarelli/Father John Sturm Making A Difference Award.

Schmelzer was nominated for the award by her principal, Teri Muth, who referred her as a “gentle, soft-spoken individual whose very presence fills a room with warmth. She is one of those rare individuals who can find the one or two positive qualities in a person and nurture those qualities until they grow and multiply to the extent that only the positive qualities remain.”

A faculty member at the school for the past 12 years, Schmelzer is also an active St. Barnabas parishioner, serving as a Eucharistic minister. Msgr. John Madsen, pastor of the parish, said, “I think it is Cheryl’s demeanor that captures people’s hearts. She is so gentle and so cooperative. That attitude is born out of a genuine faith.”

Described as a “hands on” teacher, Schmelzer’s students make life-size characters from their favorite books, grow plants for science class and dress as famous saints on All Saints Day. They are also involved in a number of service projects, including taking part in regular food and clothing collections, writing letters to members of the military and distributing food to needy families through the parish outreach program.

“In my short tenure here at St. Barnabas, Cheryl has been my unofficial mentor,” noted one teacher at the school. “I have often thought that through her generosity, she demonstrates precisely what Jesus modeled for all teachers that would succeed Him.”

Buffalo native Tim Russert, now the host of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” established the annual award to honor a teacher in the Diocese of Buffalo whose extraordinary dedication is truly making a difference in the lives of his or her students. The award serves as a constant reminder of the deep social concern and high standards and values exemplified by Sister Mary Lucille Socciarelli, RSM, and Father John Sturm, SJ, both of whom have had a profound impact on Russert’s life, at St. Bonaventure School in West Seneca and Canisius High School.

The keynote speaker at the 2007 dinner was Father Ronald Nuzzi, director of the Catholic Leadership Programs in the Alliance for Catholic Education at the University of Notre Dame. He talked about why parents sacrifice to make tuition investments to send their children to Catholic schools. Father Nuzzi also quoted St. Ignatius Loyola saying, “We must be men and women for others.”

At the dinner, Bishop’s medals were awarded to Msgr. Francis Weldgen, Paul Bauer and the Bauer Family Foundation, Daniel Gernatt Sr. and Trocaire College.

Proceeds from the dinner are used to support Catholic schools throughout the diocese. Since the first dinner in 2001, more than $760,000 has been raised for Catholic education in the eight counties of Western New York.

The lead sponsor of the 2007 dinner was Gernatt Asphalt Products, Inc. Event sponsors were Lawley Service Insurance Company and the William E. & Ann L. Swan Foundation.

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