Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today attended a White House Rose Garden ceremony with the President and First Lady to honor the four finalists for National Teacher of the Year. Among the finalists was Jason Fulmer from Graniteville, South Carolina’s Teacher of the Year for 2003-04. Fulmer is a third-grade teacher at Redcliffe Elementary in Aiken. “Jason is a dedicated educator and I want to extend my congratulations on his distinguished achievement,” said Graham, a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). “It is indeed an honor to be recognized by your peers as South Carolina’s Teacher of the Year and even more so to be selected as one of four national finalists. He has served his community and state well and has done an excellent job representing South Carolina.” The National Teacher of the Year was awarded to Kathy Mellor of Rhode Island. Other finalists included Fulmer, Kyle Hileman, Kansas Teacher of the Year, and Dennis Griner, Washington State Teacher of the Year. ####