OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford Denise Griggs speaks after getting the latest William T. Colman Award from the Dunkirk Board of Education Tuesday.

Denise Griggs has won the Dunkirk Board of Education’s annual William T. Colman Award.

Griggs gets $12,000 in the award. The money comes from a trust fund established in 1973 off Colman’s will. Proceeds from the fund are given yearly to a deserving, retired teacher who taught for at least 10 years in the Dunkirk City School District.

Griggs was all smiles Tuesday as the board presented her award at its regular meeting.

“In the words of ‘Saturday Night Live,’ I’m verklempt,” she said. “I don’t know what to say.”

Griggs taught for well over the required decade — she put in about 30 years.

“There was maybe a month out of the whole time I didn’t like. Ten days,” she said.

To well-wishers in the crowd, she said, “Thank you for all coming to see me. I didn’t know so many people knew me.”