Photo teacher looks back on years

On Monday, April 16, photography teacher Marge Stowe will receive the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year Award. After 15 years of working at McNicholas, Stowe is set to retire at the end of the school year.

Stowe made revisions to the program by making a separate class for the Advanced Placement Photography students. “It gave them a better experience when we made separate classes,” Stowe said.

She also added more hand-on projects and experiences for her students. “My favorite part of every year would have to be the annual zoo field trip. It pulls everything together that the students have learned throughout the year and they combine all they’ve learned. It serves kind of as a test for them,” Stowe said.

Over her 15 years of service, Stowe made many great memories and have reached numerous achievements. “One of my favorite memories was in 2002 when we first started the AP class and one of my students submitted a photo to the scholastic competition and received a gold key, which was the highest rank you could get. It was an exciting time for her and for the Photography program to receive that award,” Stowe said.

Stowe has greatly influenced her students and has left a positive impact on them. “Mrs. Stowe helps me look at things in life closer and see things from a different angle. She’s a great teacher and she works hard to make us better students and we’re all going to miss her a lot,” junior Maria Clark said.

“I’m going to miss the students most. I love teaching and in Photography every day was different with the students and out of all things that’s what I’ll miss the most,” Stowe said.

Stowe has not only been active in the classroom, but also has been around the school capturing every moment such as the annual Mardi Gras ball, the KAIROS retreat, the volunteering she did in Kenya, and many other events.

Senior Amanda Bradley will be receiving Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce Student of the Year Award at the same ceremony. For more information about the AACC awards, click here.