Four UA professors recently received one of the highest honors available to instructors, the Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award.

This award, presented by the University of Alabama National Alumni Association every year, distinguishes teachers who have gone above and beyond to show dedication to their students and departments.

This year’s recipients are Lawrence F. Kohl, an associate professor in the history department; Patrick R. LeClair and Seth Panitch of the College of Arts and Sciences; and Jannis L. Brakefield of the College of Human Environmental Sciences.

While the recipients have notable accomplishments and distinctions, many attribute their inspiration and motivation for teaching to the students they influence every day.

“College students are at a very special time in life, and I want to help them use this special opportunity wisely,” Kohl said. “I never lose my passion for teaching because I am always learning myself and because I am always encountering new young people who are curious about life.”

“What inspires me?” Panitch asked. “When I walk into class, and the students are already working; or when I leave class, and they continue to work. I want to be a part of that student’s process and an instrument toward their success.”

The recipients said that knowing they influence others makes them more passionate about teaching.

“Students are watching to see how we act, react and how we treat them,” Brakefield said.  “We have a unique opportunity to teach much more than our subject matter. I thank God every morning for my life at UA and my chance to make a small difference in someone else’s life that day.”