Chef Donnah Dignan-Lewis Receives Women of Distinction Award

Lunch has become an event many students look forward to at Glens Falls High School! Much of that is thanks to the hard work the Head Chef for the High School and Middle School, Donnah Dignan-Lewis, and the entire cafeteria staff put into their delicious creations each and every day.

Chef Donnah’s contributions to the community go well beyond the school campus, which is why she is one of the recipients of the 2023 Women of Distinction Award, given out by Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner.

“For generations, women have made a difference in our communities, often with little recognition or acclaim,” said Assemblywoman Woerner. “These awards are given each year to women who have gone above and beyond to make a positive difference in the lives of others.”

Chef Donnah has been working in the food industry since 1998, and has been with the Glens Falls City School District since 2020. However, her connections to the Glens Falls community run much deeper. She owned and operated G.G. Mama’s Restaurant for eight years, and currently operates a personal chef and catering business when she isn’t busy making meals for students.

Elementary Art Teacher Suzanne Reed nominated Chef Donnah for the award. In the nomination Reed highlighted how excited and energized the entire school community has been about the food being offered in the cafeteria.

“Donnah has been cooking amazing, restaurant-quality food for school lunches,” said Mrs. Reed. “She has an ethnic flair to her cooking and has been introducing students to amazing new cuisine every day. She cooks healthy, interesting meals – some of them vegetarian. I simply can’t believe how delicious her food looks and how it’s opening the eyes of our students to cuisine from around the world.”

When Chef Doonah is not busy with her catering business or feeding our hungry students, she enjoys spending time with her two daughters and working out at ADK Crossfit and Queensbury Hot Yoga.