Ninth grade earth science teacher Chris Bolhuis has been named 2013 AAPG Earth Science Teacher of the Year.
Teacher of the Year, Chris Bolhuis
Chris Bolhuis, ninth grade earth science teacher at Hudsonville Freshman Campus in Hudsonville, Mich., has been named 2013 AAPG Earth Science Teacher of the Year.
Bolhuis, a 16-year teaching veteran at Hudsonville – who also teaches an elective geology course for juniors and seniors at the school – prefers inquiry-based learning for inspiring his students.
“In the classroom, I believe inquiry based learning is the key,” Bolhuis said during the TOTY nomination process. “It helps students generate their own questions that are testable and important to them in the context of our studies.”
He was nominated by AAPG’s Eastern Section.
The AAPG TOTY award, funded annually by the AAPG Foundation, is a $6,000 prize that will be split into two parts: half will be designated for Bolhuis’ personal use, and half goes to Hudsonville Freshman Campus for educational use under Bolhuis’ supervision.
Bolhuis also will receive an all-expense paid trip to the AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition in Pittsburgh, Pa., May 19-22, where he will be presented with his award at the All-Convention Luncheon.
An interview with Bolhuis will be featured in the May convention issue of the EXPLORER.