St. Margaret's faculty and administrators recently recognized Velletri’s contributions to the school by selecting her to receive the Robert Carter and Toole Rotter Wellford Faculty Award.   The prize, established by the late Toole Rotter Wellford in memory of her husband, is awarded every two years at Commencement to a gifted teacher who is knowledgeable in his or her content areas, promotes positive relationships with students, innovates in the classroom, demonstrates professionalism and models "service above self."

A native of Millbrook, NY, Velletri earned her B.A. from Skidmore College and her M.A. from the University of Maine.   Prior to joining the SMS faculty in 1979, she was Dean of Girls and a history teacher at Suffield Academy in Connecticut, then Director of Admissions at Stuart Hall in Staunton.   Velletri came to St. Margaret’s as Dean of Residence, a position she held for six years, before serving a three-year term as College Counselor and a five-year term as Director of Studies for the school’s juniors and seniors.

She has taught history throughout, becoming department head in 1988.   Over the last 26 years, hundreds of students have taken her US History, Advanced Placement US History, Great Books, Current Events, Foreign Policy, and Advanced Placement Modern European History classes.   Encouraged by Velletri, many pursue additional opportunities for challenge and enrichment, including speech, essay and poster contests sponsored by historical organizations, internships and fellowships at the Virginia Historical Society, and participation in the Presidential Classroom program.

In addition to being a creative and energetic teacher, Velletri is active in the community.   She is a former warden and vestry member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Tappahannock, where she serves on the Altar Guild; an Aylett Country Day School and Essex County Museum board member; an officer of the Henricopolis Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution; and a member of the Tappahannock Rotary Club.