The Knights of Columbus are a charitable, Catholic fraternal organization, deserving of their own accolades and recognition for their service to community, but on Saturday, March 22, they were the ones doing the honoring.
 
At their Annual Shield Awards and Dinner, the San Salvador Council 299 honored members of the local Perth Amboy Police and Fire Departments, as well as Catholic school teachers and community volunteers.
 
Assumption Catholic School had quite a fine representation at the dinner.  Alumni Brian Lopazanski and parent of current students Katie and Nathaniel Perez, Michael Perez were honored for their work in the Fire Department. Our school, represented by Father Ivan Turyk and principal Michael Szpyhulsky, was honored for our volunteer work.  Students who participated in and won the basketball free throw contest sponsored by the Knights were on hand to receive trophies and certificates.  Awards were handed out by Ed Troche, parent of alumni Christopher Troche, who, it is worth mentioning, will soon be graduating from the US Naval Academy.
 
The shining star of our school for the evening, was the recipient of the Teacher of the Year award, Melanie Lawrence.  Mrs. Lawrence has been teaching at Assumption Catholic School for over 30 years.  For six of those years, she even served as principal.  As she drew inspiration from some of her own teachers – she can trace back her love of poodles to stories her third grade teacher told about her own pets (does that scenario sound familiar to anyone?), and it was a seventh grade teacher that encouraged her to refine her writing skills (did you know she usually writes her junior drama plays herself?) – so too does she inspire generation after generation of students at ACS.  Her love for education and dedication to the Assumption Catholic community shows and inspires in almost everything she does, from her teaching, to her many after school groups, and her volunteering at church.
 
No matter what you may do with your life, whether you are a fire fighter, a teacher, or something else entirely, it is always the hope that you pursue your dreams not for the recognition, but because it helps you live a fulfilling, and happy life.  But sometimes, the recognition is nice.  Congratulations to all the 2014 honorees!