Honored at the White House

Honored at the White House

Don Sarazen

A 1992 alumnus of Columbia International University found himself shaking hands with President Barak Obama recently when he was congratulated as a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics. Don Sarazen, who graduated from CIU with a master’s degree in Teaching and a Certificate in Biblical Studies, was among 102 mathematics and science teachers from all 50 states honored by the president at a White House reception.

The annual award recognizes outstanding K-12 science and mathematics teachers who are selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians and educators following an initial selection process at the state level.

Sarazen has been a public school elementary teacher for 20 years, mostly in the Columbia, S.C. area. In addition, he taught for two years in Chengdu, China, with International Schools of China.

Sarazen also serves his alma mater as the president of the CIU Alumni Association Leadership Council (AALC).

The Columbia magazine “Reach Out Columbia” featured Sarazen in its October cover story. Read it here:  

http://www.reachoutcolumbia.com/articles/teaching-%E2%80%93-a-career-and-a-ministry/