OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford Edward Kolodziej, left, speaks while accepting the Dunkirk City School District’s William T. Colman Award. Members of the Dunkirk Board of Education look on.

Edward Kolodziej is this year’s Dunkirk City School District William T. Colman Award winner.

The award goes to a deserving retiring teacher with at least 10 years of experience in the school district. It was started in 1973 using a trust fund established in Colman’s will.

Kolodziej is getting $15,000 for the award. “Merci beaucoup,” said the foreign language teacher as he rose to accept the award at a Dunkirk Board of Education meeting.

Kolodziej has put in 35 years at the Dunkirk City School District. He was an adviser for the National Honor Society and the French Club, and was a chairman of the district’s foreign language department.

“Merci beaucoup” is French for “Thank you very much,” and Kolodziej offered plenty of gratitude for his award.

“Teaching became a family,” he said, thanking educators, especially fellow foreign language teachers, for their support and advice.

“And always, thank you to the Dunkirk community for its support and many adventures we’ve had,” Kolodziej added. He then thanked the school district and Board of Education again for the award, this time in four different languages.

Board of Education President Kenneth Kozlowski wore a big smile throughout the presentation. He was one of Kolodziej’s students back in 1972 and spoke fondly of his time in class.