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Lithuanian language and literature teacher at the Panevezys Vytautas Zemkalnis High School Rasa Majauskiene shares:

"Alexandra Kalvenaite – Kazickas graduated from Panevezys High School for Girls (currently Vytautas Zemkalnis High School) in 1937, kept visiting the school throughout the years and maintained close friendship. It was her initiative to set up a cozy library in school’s attic in 2001 which now is one of the most visited areas of the building. Alexandra Kalvenaite – Kazickas also established and funded a literacy award in memory of her dear teacher linguist Petras Butenas in 2002. Today, the Kazickas Family Foundation continues to foster the spirit of friendship with Panevezys Vytautas Zemkalnis High School and entire town community.

The Kazickas Family Foundation established awards in memory of honorable Dr. Joseph and Alexandra Kazickas for Vytautas Zemkalnis High School students and teachers. The president of the Foundation Jurate Kazickas together with her brother Joe’s wife Lucy, their son Augustine and other representatives of the Foundation visited the school in November 2018. The guests met with school’s community and discussed contest’s rules and goals. It was agreed on the following award categories: Academic Accomplishments, Sports, Arts, Community Service, as well as “What Is Important to Me”.

According to the award guidelines, ten students, five girls and five boys, can be nominated. In order to participate, students had to raise personal annual goals, evaluate his/her accomplishments and present two essays:  “My Accomplishments and Contributions to My School and Town Community“ and “What Could I Learn from Mrs. Alexandra Kazickas”. The recipient of the Vytautas Zemkalnis High School “Teacher of the Year” award presented her work to the Vytautas Zemkalnis High School community and the special committee.

On June 13^th, 2019 Vytautas Zemkalnis High School welcomed guests at the award in memory of Alexandra Kalvenaite – Kazickas ceremony and school community’s summer picnic. Among the guests were the Kazickas Family Foundation’s New York office director Neila Baumiliene, the Kazickas Family Foundation’s Vilnius office director Agne Vertelkaite and Vilnius office project manager Ieva Sriebaliute, Panevezys municipality vice-mayor Deividas Labanavicius, member of the municipal council Loreta Masiliuniene. A display in memory of Alexandra Kalvenaite – Kazickas was opened in school’s lobby, history teacher Jolanta Astramskiene introduced all to Alexandra Kalvenaite – Kazickas’ life and autobiography “Odyssey of Hope” written together with her husband dr. Joseph P. Kazickas, students read excerpts from Mrs. Alexandra’s memoirs talking about her days spent at school as well as such difficult, but hopeful family’s path to success.

The celebration continued on school’s lawn among the wild flowers. The community and the guests enjoyed various student performances, from songs and poetry readings to “Kanapele” ensemble folk dances, followed by the highlight of the day - the award ceremony. The awards in memory of Alexandra Kalvenaite-Kazickas, founded by the Kazickas Family Foundation, were presented to nine students contributing to creating a positive school environment, as well as to the “Teacher of the Year”. The Academic Accomplishments Awards were presented to Goda Budaviciute (10^th grade) and Domantas Majauskas (10^th grade), the Sports Award went to Ugne Veckaite (9^th grade), Karolina Gabalaite (12^th grade) and Jomantas Umbrasas (11^th grade) received the Arts Award, Saule Galeckaite (10^th grade) and Domantas Majauskas (10^th grade) were awarded for the Community Service, and the “What Is Important to Me” Awards were presented to Viktorija Pelegrimaite (10^th grade) and Kristijonas Grabauskas (12^th grade). Lithuanian language and literature teacher Rasa Majauskiene was honored with “The Teacher of the Year” Award.

The essential aim of the contest - to encourage students‘ consciousness, develop skills to raise personal goals, pursue and evaluate them, learn to present self and the accomplishments to the public. In addition, this award introduces students to Alexandra Kalvenaite – Kazickas‘ life and her family history, life experiences, values and family‘s continuous work for Lithuania. These awards not just celebrate students‘ and teachers‘ achievements, but also empowers the recipients to take responsibility for the future of their school, town and Lithuania. We hope this partnership will continue and will encourage young generation to explore, challenge themselves and discover new possibilities."