Wellford Award Honors Ms. Velletri

The old song that goes, “Don’t know much about history,” is not one you’re likely to hear at St. Margaret’s. Veteran teacher Louise Velletri mixes high academic standards with a sprinkling of good natured humor and a dash of hands-on learning, with the result that girls not only learn history, most of them end up liking it, too.

Now SMS faculty and administrators have recognized Ms. Velletri’s contributions to the school over the last 26 years by selecting her to receive the Robert Carter and Toole Rotter Wellford Faculty Award.

The prize, established by the late Toole Rotter Wellford in memory of her husband, is awarded every two years at Commence-

ment to a gifted teacher who is knowledgeable in his or her content areas, promotes positive relationships with students, innovates in the classroom, demonstrates professionalism and models “service above self.”

Ms. Velletri earned her B.A. from Skidmore College and her M.A. from the University of Maine. Prior to joining the SMS faculty in 1979, she was Dean of Girls and a history teacher at Suffield Academy in Connecticut, then Director of Admissions at Stuart Hall in Staunton.

Head of School Margaret R. Broad
presents the Robert Carter and Toole
Rotter Wellford Faculty Award to
History Department Chair Louise
Velletri at Commencement

She came to St. Margaret’s as Dean of Residence, a position she held for six years, before serving a three-year term as College Counselor and a five-year term as Director of Studies for the school’s juniors and seniors. She has taught history throughout, becoming department head in 1988.

Encouraged by Ms. Velletri, many students pursue additional opportunities for challenge and enrichment, including history contests, internships, fellowships and special study programs.