WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | SC educators named Professors of the Year

SC educators named Professors of the Year

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - They're two people doing completely different things in their classrooms, and they are part of an elite group with only 34 members.

Professors Susan Anderson and Christopher Thomas received the governor's professor of the year award at the state house Thursday.
    
Anderson teaches dance at the university of south Carolina. She's been there more than 30 years. When she started there was one dance class, and now there are more than 80.
    
She says she's humbled to be honored.

"we don't just teach our dancers to kick their legs, they have to study anatomy and physiology."

The other professor awarded is Christopher Thomas. He teaches at Florence-Darlington technical college, and is being recognized for his use of technology to keep students engaged in the classroom.

"This represents a clarion call for me to continue to look for innovative ways to teach and for my students to learn," said Thomas.

One person not at the governor's Professor of the Year award ceremony was the governor.

Governor Mark Sanford's spokesman says he was not able to attend. He spent the day in Aiken County.

He added, "For the way these and other professors not only teach but inspire the next generation, we'd thank them and urge continued excellence as they indeed arm students with many of the tools necessary to succeed."

Copyright 2009 WIS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.