Biola ('94) alum, Michael Long, was honored at a reception Tuesday, Dec. 11 for receiving the State of California Teacher of the Year Award. President Corey introduced Long to Biola faculty and staff and lead a Q-and-A session with him. Present at the reception were Long's former teachers from Biola's education department and current students from his fourth and fifth grade combination class at Carmela Elementary School in Whittier, Calif.

Long said during the ceremony, that he was grateful for his experience at Biola and thankful for the teachers who had challenged him and believed in him when he was a student.

Receiving the State of California award for Teacher of the Year was a great honor for Long, who said, "It's a blessing. But at the end of the day THAT is why I do it," he said as he pointed to a table full of his current students who attended the celebration to honor their favorite teacher.