Nun Wins $5K Award After 44 Years Teaching Kids About God

A Catholic nun who says she wakes up every morning loving what she does just received a $5,000 surprise for her life's work teaching children about God.

Sister Emmanuella Ladipo, a member of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus, was called to the front of St. Augustine Church in Washington D.C. after a school Mass in April. She thought she was just helping distribute Communion, but school leaders had other plans.

They announced she'd won a 2026 Golden Apple Award, recognizing teaching excellence in the Archdiocese of Washington. Sister Emmanuella stood speechless as students and staff erupted in applause.

"I love what I do," she said in an interview. The best part of teaching in a Catholic school? "You can talk about Jesus all day long."

Sister Emmanuella's journey spans 44 years and four African nations. Born in Nigeria, she's taught children in Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Ghana, and now the United States. She's served as teacher, principal, and director of religious education at St. Augustine Catholic School, stepping into whatever role was needed.

"She always says, if God needs me, I'll do it," said Father Patrick Smith, the church's pastor. He noted that her name, Emmanuella, means "God is with us."

The school holds special significance in Catholic history. Founded in 1858 by free Black men and women, some formerly enslaved, it became the first Catholic school dedicated to educating African American children in the nation's capital. The founders built the school before even constructing a church, prioritizing education for their children's future.

One of Sister Emmanuella's proudest moments came in 2010 when 19 of her students were baptized during Easter Vigil. She guided them through their faith journey, watching them embrace Christianity together.

Between 2016 and 2020, she returned to Nigeria to run schools there. When COVID-19 hit, St. Augustine School called her back to serve as interim principal, helping navigate pandemic safety protocols and hybrid learning.

"Children are the same everywhere, because they want to know about God," Sister Emmanuella said.

Why This Inspires

Sister Emmanuella represents a century-long tradition of Black Catholic nuns serving St. Augustine School. The Oblate Sisters of Providence, founded in 1829 as the world's first order of Black Catholic women religious, taught there for 90 years starting in 1908. The Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus now continue that legacy.

Her willingness to serve wherever needed, from teaching first graders to leading entire schools during crises, shows how one person's dedication can touch thousands of lives. She's shaped generations of students across two continents, always with the same message: God is with you.

The Golden Apple Award comes with a golden apple trophy and $5,000 from the Donahue Family Foundation. Ten teachers received the honor this year, celebrated at a May 21 dinner.

For Sister Emmanuella, the recognition confirms what she already knows: teaching children about faith is her daily blessing.