On Feb. 28, the University of Kentucky Alumni Association held a dinner to honor this year’s recipients of the Great Teacher Award. Six UK professors have been named winners of the award for 2017:

• Richard Andreatta, College of Health Sciences;
• Dr. Gitanjali Pinto-Sinai, College of Dentistry;
• Jeff Reese, College of Education;
• Michelle Sizemore, College of Arts and Sciences;
• Nathan Vanderford, College of Medicine;
• Sherali Zeadally, College of Communication and Information.

Since 1961, when the program was started, 283 faculty members have been honored as Great Teachers. The award holds special significance for the winners, because it is entirely student nominated. It is the oldest, continuously-given award for teachers at the University of Kentucky. Recipients are selected by a committee appointed by the UK Alumni Association’s Board of Directors and representatives of the student organization Omicron Delta Kappa. In addition to the awards dinner, the winners received a plaque, a cash stipend, and were recognized at center court on the floor of Rupp Arena during this season’s final home UK men's basketball game.

On this episode of "Behind the Blue," each of the 2017 Great Teacher Award winners discuss what it was like to be presented with this honor, their teaching philosophies, their thoughts regarding their students here at UK, and more.

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