2010 Angela Metzger Award

Nomination Deadline: March 22, 2010

The Angela Metzger Memorial Award annually acknowledges exceptional members of Oak Knoll who exemplify the principles of Holy Child education and the mission statement and beliefs of Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child.

Origin of the Award

Angela (nee Serpe) Metzger – homemaker, published writer, avid reader, active churchwoman, and volunteer – died on November 29, 2006, in Summit, New Jersey.  For nearly half of her lifetime, Angela offered her gifts to Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child as a mother, an educator, a trustee, a fundraiser, and finally a grandmother.  Angela Metzger encompassed the characteristics of a Holy Child woman – intelligent, compassionate, confident in her own voice, and determined to make a difference in our world.

Two weeks before her death, Angela wrote a letter of resignation from the Oak Knoll Board of Trustees.  In it, she referred to the tenets of the school and its foundress, Cornelia Connelly:  

“The religious component is so important – it gives the child a sense of worth (God loves you) and a sense of purpose (go into the world)…We need to pay heed to Cornelia’s words, indeed the words of Jesus:  love God and love your neighbor as yourself…This grounded approach helps the child be all he or she can be…The ethos exists to give life to children under its care so they can be life givers on their own… Please be careful with Oak Knoll and its legacy …it is about whole persons who are children of God.”

The faculty, administration, and staff are legendary within our own circles for caring about and living the philosophy, but the task in today’s world is especially difficult.  At a time of advancing technology, maintaining the vital human aspects of interactions in education is ever more difficult.  In a world seemingly pushing towards dehumanizing, the challenge is to humanize.

To reward and enhance that commitment, it was decided after Angela’s death to establish a memorial fund.  Two annual cash awards of $5,000 each will be available; one award will be made to a person associated with the Lower School and one to a person in the Upper School.

 

 

 

 

2010 Nomination Form

How to submit your nomination:

Nominations may be submitted by downloading the printable nomination form below and sending by mail, or online via this link. Please contact Stacy Schlosser at 908-522-8110 with any questions.

Criteria

Criteria will be based on application of the Holy Child philosophy, as evidenced by excelling in one or more of the following criteria:

  • Values the religious component of Holy Child education; encourages good works out of love of God, neighbor, and self.
  • Creates a setting of trust and caring attention for each student.
  • Motivates a respect for the dignity of each individual and of humankind.
  • Inspires serenity and a sense of peace through her/his maturity and wisdom.
  • Instills courage and confidence for students to express their thoughts and talents.
  • Promotes a joyful spirit that is a hallmark of Holy Child education. Lives Cornelia Connelly’s charge of “Actions, not words.”

Process

Nominations for award recipients may be made by anyone associated with the school.  That includes faculty, staff, administrators, trustees, alumnae/i, students, parents, or any other stakeholders in Oak Knoll’s educational program.  Nominations may be made any time prior to March 22, 2010. The basis for the nomination should be articulated within the context of the criteria set forth above.  To be eligible, a nominee must be employed by Oak Knoll for a minimum of five years.  Awards will be presented during the closing assemblies of the Lower and Upper Schools in June 2010. 

The consideration of nominees will be based on the breadth and depth of achievements in the set of criteria specified.  Our 2009 recipients, Lucy Remus and Harriet Marcus, will serve on the 2010 selection committee along with specific members of various constituencies.  Previous recipients will be ineligible for nomination in subsequent years.