Schools
Former Berlin Teacher Carol Virostek Honored By National Women's Group
American Association of University Women (AAUW) establishes endowment in her name.
Carol Virostek taught English at Berlin High School and was Connecticut Teacher of the Year in 1989 and a National Milken Award Educator in 1991.
The last 11 years, however, Virostek has been battling cancer and there have been good days and bad days, good spells and bad spells.
She was feeling well enough to attend the National Convention of a group that she is an influential member of in New Orleans. She traveled to New Orleans for the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Convention and arrived in good spirits.
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Her spirits would be lifted even more on the opening night of the convention. She was told she had to sit in a specific location because she is on the national board. She sat down and began to be praised by Kate Farrar, who Virostek had worked with and mentored. Just then, Virostek's daughter Leslie stepped up to the podium followed by her other daughter Allison and her sister Kathy McCarthy.
In a touching moment to close out the opening dinner Sunday night, Carol Virostek’s friends and family surprised the longtime leadership programs champion with an endowment named in her honor to support AAUW’s campus programming.
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The Carol R. Virostek Campus Opportunities Fund (#4378) recognizes Carol’s dedication to the growth of AAUW’s popular campus leadership programs and the inspiration she has provided during her four years as chair of the national AAUW College/University Committee. Members, donors, and friends can give to support current and future leadership programs in perpetuity, a legacy that perfectly matches Carol’s dedication to growing that area of the organization.
"As far as I can tell it was a conspiracy of about 60 people to surprise me and keep me completely in the dark," said Virostek, who got back into Berlin Thursday. "I thought Kate was going to ask me up to help present an award but then when I saw my daughter and then my other daughter and my sister I was in shock."
Berlin Assistant Principal Janet Parlato also attended as did directors from the Women's Centers at both CCSU and UConn.
AAUW Director of Campus Leadership Programs Kate Farrar announced the fund. “My work with our campus leadership programs would not have been possible without the passion, vision, and ongoing cheerleading of Carol Virostek,” she said. “Carol and I share fundamental values that drive our efforts. We believe in the power of young women to truly change the world.”
Carol’s daughters and sister surprised her by flying to New Orleans to join in the presentation. Leslie Virostek took to the stage and delivered a moving tribute to her mother. “This is her life philosophy: There is no challenge that can’t be overcome. All you need is a proactive approach, a way to include others, a positive attitude — and, of course, the appropriate item of clothing.”
Those who wish to donate to the donate can do so by going to aauw.org and find donate. From there you will be taken to a menu and you will need to find the proper fund.
"The reason I'm so excited about this is that it is not a designated fund," Virostek said. "That means this money can be used for programs and grassroots ideas that, to be honest, might not even haven't been thought of yet. It's open-ended and will allow the flexibility to use it where it is needed most."
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