Dr. Tom Holman, professor of recreation at Southeast Missouri State University, was the recipient of one of the five 2014 Educator of the Year awards presented by the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce.

The selection process for the awards started last April and that is when Holman was nominated to receive the award. Holman was notified of his nomination and then submitted all necessary documents to the selection committee. Upon review of the documentation and an interview process, the title was awarded to Holman.

Tim Arbeiter, vice president of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce, said that Holman was chosen to receive this honor for his performance not only in the classroom but outside of it as well.

"His in-depth experience of engaging students and experiential learning opportunities," Arbeiter said, listing reasons Holman was selected. "Taking those in his field and training future professionals and demonstrating to them all the different activities, leadership programs and training that they can do in order to make the experience a much more of a dynamic presence for the students."

Arbeiter went on to say that Holman brings the community of Cape Girardeau into his classroom to make for better learning of the students' surroundings.

"He really challenges them to think broadly and he also does a phenomenal job of engaging community people to come into his classes and talk about their particular area of expertise," Arbeiter said.

Holman is a graduate of Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, and started his career at Southeast in 2004. While at Southeast, he has taken his students on many explorations including an annual summer trip to Colorado.

Holman said that he is humbled by the award and is living what he considers the dream life.

"It's an honor and a privilege, and I'm really thankful for all the people that contributed to getting me to where I am, and it's just an exciting honor," Holman said. "I get to teach rock climbing, canoeing, mountain biking and I get to take a big trip to Colorado every summer, I'm living the dream."

He went on to say that even though he received this great honor, he doesn't feel like he is doing anything other than what he should be doing.

"I don't feel that special," Holman said. "I just do my job, and I try to teach well and respect the students and teach them how to 'Do unto other that's done unto you,' so I try to see them be really successful and not just a name that gets a grade. My greatest accomplishment is seeing my students go out and change the world and make a difference."

Even though this award doesn't come with a year-long parking spot as some may think, it does come with a $500 check, a crystal apple and a certificate.

Adam Metelski, senior in the recreation department, said that Holman is a great educator and really helped him figure out his path in life even before he was a student at Southeast.

"He took my hand even before I went to SEMO. I didn't even know where I was going when I was in community college," Metelski said. "I knew he was an instructor in recreation and I had an idea that it was something I wanted to get into, but whenever I was taking his courses I developed what type of recreation I should do. And I found that out through him. He has pretty much been my mentor through this whole experience."

Metelski also said that Holman frequently uses the statement "Eat the meal" as a way of telling students to get the most out of their college experience. He tells them that since they are paying for this education that they might as well make the most of this situation.

Holman is known for many quotes, but said that something he goes by every day is, "You only live once, but if you do it just right, once is enough."