Former Faculty Member Receives Benedictine Spirit Award

The Florida Benedictine Spirit Award was presented to former faculty member Walter Plazewski at the Saint Leo Prep and Holy Name Academy Reunion in October. The award honors individuals with longstanding connections to one or more of Florida’s Benedictine communities.

Walter Plazewski was appointed to the Saint Leo College Preparatory School faculty by headmaster Father Raphael Schooff in the fall of 1950. Serving under Fr. Raphael and his two successors, Fathers Stephen Herrmann and Robert Velten, Plazewski taught English literature to the high school freshmen and sophomores until 1963. With the merging of some of the Prep and Holy Name Academy classes beginning in the fall of 1955, he taught on the Holy Name Academy faculty for most of his academic career.

After retiring from teaching, Plazewski became a respected local businessman and political leader. In every endeavor, he has remained faithful to the Benedictine values he adopted as a member of the Saint Leo family. Our community is especially grateful to Walter Plazewski for his assistance to Fr. Raphael during his years as pastor of Saint Anthony’s Church.

The Florida Benedictine Spirit Award was established three years ago by Saint Leo Abbey, Holy Name Monastery, and Saint Leo University. Recipients are selected by Prioress of Holy Name Monastery Sister Mary Clare Neuhofer, Saint Leo University President Arthur F. Kirk, Jr., and Abbot Isaac Camacho of Saint Leo Abbey. The first Florida Benedictine Spirit Award was conferred upon Bud and Arlene McKechnie. In 2007, the second award was presented to Margaret Herrmann Beaumont and Eddie Herrmann, and last year the recipient was John Hughes of the Saint Leo College Preparatory School class of 1964.