Lee Gardemal Award

Mrs. Lee Gardemal was a long-time employee of the Archdiocese of New Orleans as an office manager for several schools. Throughout her esteemed career, she touched the lives of many families and educators at Christ The King, St. Cletus, Holy Angels, and Holy Name of Jesus, where she spent her last sixteen years of employment.

“Mrs. Lee,” as she was known to everyone, was the heart and soul of the Holy Name of Jesus School community. She was a strong advocate for the students, faculty, and staff. She would always go out of her way to make sure you were okay, always putting others ahead of herself.

Mrs. Lee also had a strong passion for sports, especially her Holy Name of Jesus Gators. She was a constant fixture at many of Holy Name’s sporting events, sometimes catching two games in one afternoon. She took a special interest in all of our coaches and athletes, offering her support in any way she could. She was a fan favorite at the games, as she did not care to hide her passion for the Gators.

The Holy Name of Jesus Gator Run was renamed in 2008 to honor her memory and all that she meant to the Holy Name community. Additionally, at the end of each school year, a 6th grade girl and boy student-athlete are presented with the Lee Gardemal Award, which includes a monetary award in the form of a partial tuition credit for the following school year. The recipients are recognized for exemplifying Lee Gardemal’s positive attitude, integrity, and passion for representing Holy Name of Jesus School on the athletic fields and courts throughout the city. The recipients are truly young men and women for others and are leaders by example.