Low Named College Teacher of the Year - by Ben Boehl - Dundalk Chamber of Commerce names CCBC’s Bernadette Low as Outstanding College Teacher of the Year.   If a student has taken an English class at CCBC-Dundalk over the past 35 years, there is a possibility that he/she has had Bernadette Flynn Low, PhD. as an instructor. Low, who started teaching at CCBC when it was known as Dundalk Community College in 1973, received the Dundalk Chamber of Commerce Outstanding College Teacher of the Year Award on April 24 at Martin's Eastwind. “I didn’t know I was nominated; it was a big surprise to me. It was nice because the only time I get surprised anymore is if I’m told that my car needs to be fixed or something like that," Low said with a laugh. "I was honored to hear that type of news.” Low lives in Darlington in Harford County with her husband, former CCBC English department chairman and faculty member, Professor John Low. Her and John have always stayed at Dundalk because the Lows have been impressed with the set-up of the campus. With higher gas prices and advances in technology, Low has started teaching more online classes. Low said she has taught many students over the years and wonders how much she impacted their lives. She has no idea of knowing unless she comes across an old student. “On the night of the award, a student came up to me outside (in) the parking lot and said ‘you don’t remember me, but I went on to Towson and I’m doing really well.’ That made me feel good,” Low said.  One of her proudest moments of her career came this past January when she went down to New Orleans with 15 CCBC students and staff members. Low and Catonsville professor Michael Sanow developed a winter service learning experience called The New Orleans project.  The group stayed down for a week working in projects to help that community recover from the devastation of Katrina. They created the trip to support the CCBC’s Community Book Connection’s study of Michael Eric Dyson’s controversial book, “Come Hell or High Water: Hurricane Katrina, the Color of Disaster.” “You see the pictures on the news, but it's not the same until you see it in person,” Low added. Low and the students worked as volunteers to rebuild some of the many damaged homes in New Orleans. Low believes the group might return to New Orleans for another trip next year. As a teacher, Low feels the best way for a student to succeed is to get hands-on experience. During her children’s literature class, she has students go to venues with little kids and has them read to the children. “It is a great and fun experience. It gives the students the experience of coming up with a plan to read to the kids and it teaches them how to adjust when everything doesn’t go according to plan."