The Diocese of Richmond’s Office of Catholic Schools honored 22 teachers at its second annual Excellence in Catholic Education Awards dinner, Thursday, May 9, at the Roslyn Center.

The regional winners are: Deb Miller, St. Anne, Bristol; Kathleen Hill, Our Lady of Lourdes, Richmond; Annie Gallagher, Catholic High School, Virginia Beach.

Deb Miller	Kathleen Hill	Annie Gallagher

In addition to 22 school honorees and three regional winners, the event featured the presentation of its top honor, the Elizabeth Ann Seton Award, to Diana M. Socha, a first grade teacher at Star of the Sea School, Virginia Beach.

Diana Socha

In nominating Socha for the award, Star of the Sea School principal Carey Averill wrote, “She gives with a full heart, understands the difference between experience and wisdom, leads with gratitude both professionally and personally, and has her students and her school as her main priority as she helps cultivate relationships with our littlest people to our adults.”

Socha has taught for 37 years — 30 within the Diocese of Richmond.