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Some stories require a little more – a little more discussion, more context, more depth and breadth. 

That’s the idea behind “Behind the Blue” – a weekly podcast created by UK Strategic Communications. It is designed to explore through probing interviews the in-depth the stories that make UK the university for Kentucky and that have impact across the institution, the Commonwealth and, in some cases, the world. 

"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.

To discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

Jul 7, 2022

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 7, 2022) – The University of Kentucky Alumni Association started the Great Teacher Award program in 1961 to honor excellent teaching at the university. There have been 307 teachers honored since that first year. Nominations may only be submitted by current students.

To receive the award, a candidate must:

  • Hold the rank of full-time lecturer or above and have been a member of the faculty for the past three years at UK.
  • Have superior knowledge of the subject matter.
  • Have original and innovative classroom presentations.
  • Demonstrate concern for students, both inside and outside the classroom setting.
  • Not have been a recipient of the award for the past 10 years.

A committee of the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors and a representative from the student organization Omicron Delta Kappa select the recipients based on objective rating and ranking of the eligible nominations submitted.

This episode of Behind the Blue spotlights one of the 2022 Great Teacher Award winners. Since working at the Center for Applied Energy Research in the mid-1980s, John "Jack" Groppo, of the UK College of Engineering, has focused on mineral processing work which began with fine coal that had not been recovered because the technology didn’t exist. Today, processing fine coal is common practice. Groppo is a professor and director of undergraduate studies in mining engineering. He is the co-creator of the sustainable campus electronics recycling program at UK. He is the developer of the Center for Applied Energy Research “Energy 101” education outreach for local underserved elementary schools providing energy education with hands-on demonstrations.

He is the faculty advisor for the UK Society of Mining Engineers Student Chapter. Groppo earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mining and mineral engineering from Virginia Tech and his doctorate in mining engineering from the University of Kentucky. His research interests include mineral processing, surface chemistry, power generation, and industrial and coal utilization by-product recycling.

"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.

To discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.