SWU applauds top Pickens County educators
SWU President Todd Voss addresses an audience of teachers, support staff members and administrators during the School District of Pickens County's Back-to-School Celebration.
Southern Wesleyan University helped the School District of Pickens County kick off the start of a new academic year during the district’s Back-to-School Celebration at Pickens High School Aug. 15.
SWU President Todd Voss presented Jennifer Ohlrogge of Gettys Middle School (second from left) with a cash award. Ohlrogge received Support Staff of the Year award.
Voss congratulates Nikki Miller of Pickens Elementary School, named Teacher of the Year, with a cash award.
PICKENS, S.C. – Southern Wesleyan University joined the School District of Pickens County in congratulating top educators during the district’s Back-to-School Celebration Aug. 15 at Pickens High School.
During the event, Southern Wesleyan University President Todd Voss presented cash prizes to the 2013-‘14 Teacher of the Year and Support Employee of the Year. Finalists in each category also received cash prizes sponsored by Southern Wesleyan.
“Teaching is a calling,” Voss said to the audience of teachers, support staff members and administrators. “There are so few who have the gifts, abilities, talents and character traits to be teachers in today’s world. I am so proud of what you do. You are standing in the gap in a world that’s falling apart. You are making a difference one student at a time.”
Voss added, “Every teacher, every administrator, every operational manager, every custodian, every food service employee and every school system has the ability and opportunity to make a difference in the lives of these young people today.”
Nikki Miller, a reading coach at Pickens Elementary School, was named Teacher of the Year. The finalists for Teacher of the Year were Susan Orr of Six Mile Elementary School, Jared Roper of McKissick Elementary School (a SWU alumnus), and Toni Johnson of Dacusville Middle School.
Jennifer Ohlrogge, an ISS instructor at Gettys Middle School, was named Support Employee of the Year. Finalists were Kim Hager of Dacusville Elementary School, Connie Upchurch of Clemson Elementary School and Diann Reece of A.R. Lewis Elementary School.
The finalists were selected first by a screening committee before going before an interview committee which will determine the winners. The committees were composed of parents, administrators, and former teachers and support employees of the year.
Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused learning community devoted to transforming lives by challenging students to be dedicated scholars and servant-leaders who impact the world for Christ. For details about degree programs, go online to swu.edu.