StM News

Several members of St. Martin’s faculty and staff received awards and recognition during the end-of-the-year chapel for personnel on May 29. During a worship service led by Fr. Jeff Millican in the Dan and Frances White Chapel, Head of School Whitney Samuel Drennan ’94 acknowledged and thanked faculty and staff for not only their service to St. Martin’s and dedicated commitment to its students, but also for their creativity, collaboration, and expertise. 

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Service Awards

Matthew Munhall, Dixie Patrick, DeMarias Sojka, Chad Wilken, and Sally Uzee were recognized for five years of service to the school. John Dicasali, Rebecca Lovisa, Rosary Mouton, and Jennifer Wang were honored for 10 years of service. Andrew Harris, Joe LeCoq, Stephen Martinez, Mary Lee Saucier, and Allison Thomas were honored for 20 years of service to the school. Erin Dazzo, who is retiring, was recognized for 25 years at StM. Warren Lind was applauded for an amazing 45 years of service to St. Martin’s. 

Barbara Ryan Leadership Award

The Barbara Ryan Leadership Award was presented. Named for long-time StM administrator and former interim Head of School Barbara Ryan, this award is presented to a staff member who displays devotion to the school and leadership qualities. The 2024 recipient was Erin Dazzo, student billing accounts manager, who is retiring after 25 years of service to the school. 

Erin was lauded as being “always willing to give a helping hand,” and as a “wealth of institutional information.”  She is “a calm, kind presence” and has consistently remained a source of positivity and support in our community, especially in the business office.

The J. Gordon and Lou Ann Reische Outstanding Teacher Award

Finally, the 2023 award was presented to Lower School Librarian Ethel Madden. In their letter of nomination, her colleagues said, “She is well-known around the community for her enthusiasm for the extra special events that she hosts with the goal of making reading and learning fun. Examples of these exceptional activities include hot chocolate and a train ride on the Polar Express, story time with Mrs. Claus, a robust annual Book Fair, and multiple author visits throughout the year, to name a few. ”

In addition to many other positive qualities, it was noted that Ethel’s “enthusiasm, eagerness, and energy for reading and learning are contagious.” Due to a prior commitment, the award was presented to Ethel at a Lower School chapel service, and she was again recognized and applauded at the faculty awards ceremony. 

In 1988, the Reische Award was conceived and endowed by Mr. and Mrs. J. Gordon Reische in honor of their daughters Julie Reische Gray ’74, Susan Reische ’76, and Kathy Reische Habluetzel ’80, with the express purpose of recognizing and rewarding outstanding teaching at St. Martin’s Episcopal School. It is hoped that this award will serve both as a reminder of those faculty members whose considerable enthusiasm, empathy, expertise, and dedication made St. Martin's the revered institution it has become, and as an incentive to current faculty to strive, to excel, and to constantly grow as teachers.

Following the recognition ceremony, all personnel enjoyed a catered reception in Saints Hall.

Photos courtesy of Wally Porter ’76.