Columbia Chamber Presents Educator Excellence Awards to Local Teachers

The Columbia Chamber has announced Alex Lopez Arrocha (Dent Middle School) and Nicoleta Hodis (Dreher High School) as Educator Excellence Award winners.

The Educator Excellence Award, sponsored by Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union, recognizes outstanding educators from Richland One and Richland Two school districts. This biannual award honors teachers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to their students, innovative teaching methods, and a commitment to community involvement. Each award winner also received $500 from Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union. 

“What educators do every day goes far beyond the classroom. They’re building confidence, creating opportunity, and shaping what comes next for our community. At Palmetto Citizens, that’s something we take personally. Because we were founded by teachers, it makes recognizing outstanding educators especially meaningful for us," said Emilie Lewis, director of community engagement at Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union.

Born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, Alex Lopez Arrocha is a musician, educator and writer whose work explores the intersections of art, identity and community. A lifelong violinist, Alex studied at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, where he developed his musicianship under Jennifer John and explored the deeper philosophical questions surrounding artistry and the human experience.

Originally from Romania, Nicoleta Hodis is an experienced educator with more than 30 years of teaching experience in Romania and Columbia, South Carolina. She earned bachelor’s degrees in Classical Languages (Latin and Greek) and Romanian Language and Literature from Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, followed by a master’s degree in education and a doctorate in Social Foundations of Education from the University of South Carolina.