Polly Lougen, a science teacher at St. Mary School in Swormville, has been named the recipient of the Sister Lucille Socciarelli/Father John Sturm Making a Difference Award. Lougen will receive her award at the GALA 22:6 dinner on Jan. 19. (Courtesy of Catholic Education Department)

The Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo will recognize Polly Lougen as the Sister Lucille Socciarelli/Father John Sturm Making a Difference Award recipient when it celebrates GALA 22:6 on Jan. 19. It will be held at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center in downtown Buffalo, beginning with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Bishop Richard J. Malone will present Bishop's Medal awards to Robert T. Scott, M&T Bank and the M&T Charitable Foundation, and the Buffalo Museum of Science. The evening will include an audience of more than 1,000 guests and a display of STREAM projects presented by students from the 35 Catholic elementary schools in Western New York.

Now in her 22nd year of teaching in the diocese, Lougen is a science teacher at St. Mary School in Swormville. According to those who nominated her, she is a hard-working, dedicated educator who shows commitment to her students and coworkers by discovering new and creative ways to teach and cultivate her skills. Through her faith in the Lord, she strives to bring love and devotion to every child and colleague.

In the classroom, Lougen embraces the spirit of Catholic teaching to provide outstanding schooling to her students. She has helped children engage with and appreciate a Christ-centered education through conveying the power of prayer and developing personal relationships with the Lord. Fully integrating the STREAM curriculum into her classroom, Lougen conveys content to her students across a variety of subject areas.

By adapting her teaching methods and strategies throughout her years in the classroom, those closest to her say she has grown and improved as a teacher. In implementing the state's ELA Common Core curriculum, Lougen spent hours planning and collaborating with her fellow faculty members to discover the best methods to communicate and interact with her students.

Aside from her teaching career, Lougen is also an active member of St. Mary Parish, giving her time and talent to numerous parish events. She participates in her church's evening prayer and lecture programs, prepares children for sacraments and mentors confirmation candidates. A graduate of the Catholic Biblical Studies Program and a spiritual resource for many, she helps others recognize Christ's compassion by teaching Bible study for her church's family faith formation program.

Laura Zaepfel, vice president of Uniland Development Company, is the chair of this year's dinner, and Uniland is the lead sponsor.

For more information, to donate or for tickets, call 716-847-8373 or visit www.501auctions.com/gala226.