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The Petras Butenas Literacy Award Established by Alexandra Kazickas
07/21/2018

In 2019 the Kazickas Family Foundation Will Reestablish the Petras Butenas Literacy Award established by Alexandra Kazickas in 2002.


Alexandra Kalvenas Kazickas graduated from the Panevezys Girls Gymnasium (currently Vytautas Zemkalnis Gymnasium) in 1937, and her whole life kept in contact with many of her friends and teachers. Alexandra met with some of them once she came back to Lithuania in 1975. She kept coming back for the high school reunions in 1987 and 1997. In 1987, Alexandra with seven of her class mates celebrated their lifelong friendship in her home in Cat Cay, the Bahamas. In 2002, in Panevezys, Alexandra established a Literary Award in memory of her Lithuanian language and literature teacher, a prominent Lithuanian linguist Petras Butenas. With Alexandra’s passing in 2011, the award which had been based on Alexandra’s personal contributions and initiative, ended in 2013. Thanks to the initiative of the Lithuanian Language Society (Panevezys branch) the Kazickas Family Foundation will reestablish the Petras Butenas Literary Award, and the Alexandra Kazickas Diligence Award for Panevezys V.Zemkalnis Gymnasium students in 2019. In November of 2017, KFF President Jurate Kazickas visited the Panevezys Gymnasium and had meetings regarding the two awards while in June of 2018, KFF NYC bureau director Neila Baumiliene continued the conversation in the offices of the Lithuanian Language Society in Vilnius.


Jurate Kazickas with the principal and the teachers of the Panevezys V. Zemkalnis gynmansium in November of 2017
Jurate Kazickas with the principal and the teachers of the Panevezys V. Zemkalnis gynmansium in November of 2017
Panevezys city library has archives with Alexandra's picture and letters dedicated and sent to her teachers. Pictures and letters had been cherished and donated by the teachers' families.
Panevezys city library has archives with Alexandra's picture and letters dedicated and sent to her teachers. Pictures and letters had been cherished and donated by the teachers' families.
In 1992, during the 60th Anniversary celebration of the Panevezys V.Zemkalnis gymnasium. Second from left, Dr.J.P.Kazickas, third from left Mrs. A.Kazickas.
In 1992, during the 60th Anniversary celebration of the Panevezys V.Zemkalnis gymnasium. Second from left, Dr.J.P.Kazickas, third from left Mrs. A.Kazickas.
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