The FC Jazz Combo lit up the Quad for the Teacher of the Year Reception held last Wednesday honoring Jodi Balma who received the title after over 36 other nominations.

Balma is a political science instructor and the honors program coordinator.

“I was really excited, it’s an incredible honor to be recognized among so many great faculty,” Balma said.

Selection for Teacher of the Year award is done through two levels, members of the Level I process are A.S. members including Noura Qreini, Karina Gomez, Joshua Kleinbergs, Alex Trigueros and Susanna Morales. These individuals determine the top 10 nominations to move forward. Level II members include faculty senate members such as Joe Carrithers, Stephen Plett and Sunshine Vidal who determine the top five finalists and the Teacher of the Year along with a few members of A.S.

The top 10 finalists received an award presented with a personal quote which symbolized their passion for teaching. After the finalists, President Rajen Vurdien presented the final award to Balma.

“I truly believe I have the best job in the world. I’m paid to spend my time talking about a subject I love and read voraciously about politics, policy and government. I have the ability to inspire others to think about politics with a critical eye and mentor my students long after they have left my classroom,” Balma said in her personal quote.

The FC Teacher of the Year will have a chance to compete as a nominee in the State Academic Hayward Award given to four faculty members in the state. She will also be recognized in the 2014 Commencement Ceremony.

“She’s incredibly popular with students because she has the ability to make any students interested in political science, whether it’s their major or not. She shows immense passion for the subject,” said Aaron Wodka, political science major.