Spartanburg, S.C.  BMW celebrated its 25th year as the premier sponsor for the South Carolina Teacher of the Year program with the presentation of a new BMW X5 to Deion Jamison, the teacher recipient for 2023. Jamison received the keys to the BMW X5 xDrive50i, which is Dravit Grey Metallic in color, has Tartufo Extended Merino Leather interior, and is equipped with the Dynamic Handling Package. He will drive the BMW X5 during his year-long sabbatical from the classroom as South Carolina’s public education ambassador. 

“This is an incredible honor that I’m still processing right now; it’s very overwhelming,” said Deion Jamison, an English teacher at Legacy Early College with the South Carolina Public Charter School District. “I’m very thankful to BMW for sponsoring this phenomenal program and for providing this amazing ride that I get to drive around for the next year. I’m excited to share my story with teachers across the state of South Carolina and, hopefully, inspire others to become teachers. BMW helps make all this possible and I’m very grateful for that.” 

“Deion Jamison is a wonderful example of the enthusiasm and dedication of our South Carolina teachers,” said Max Metcalf, manager of government and community relations at BMW Manufacturing. “BMW’s support of the Teacher of the Year program for the past 25 years is central to our commitment to education across South Carolina.”

BMW Manufacturing became the premier sponsor of the South Carolina Teacher of the Year program in 1998, when it awarded a BMW Z3 Roadster to Nancy Elizabeth Baker of Chesterfield County. All totaled, BMW has awarded four BMW Z3 Roadsters, seven BMW Z4 Roadsters, and fourteen BMW X models (X3, X4, X5, or X6) to the winning teachers. 

Along with the use of a BMW X5 for one year, Jamison receives a $25,000 cash award, a set of Michelin tires, an exclusive Jostens Teacher of the Year ring, a Bojangles $2,000 award, and complimentary admission to participate in Leadership South Carolina, one of the oldest and most respected leadership programs in the country. He will serve as the state spokesperson for over 60,000 educators.

The other state Teacher of the Year finalists – Laura Merk, a math teacher at Springfield Middle School in York County School District Four; Thomas Slater, a music teacher at Chestnut Oaks Middle School with the Sumter County School District; Zachary Arms, a social studies teacher at Liberty High School in the School District of Pickens County; and Jami Guker, a math teacher at Woodruff Middle School in Spartanburg County School District Four – received a $10,000 cash award, a set of Michelin tires, and a Jostens “SC Teacher of the Year” celebratory ring. 

Since 1992, the BMW Group has invested nearly $12 billion in its South Carolina operations. BMW Manufacturing is the largest BMW Group plant in the world, producing more than 1,500 vehicles each day and 433,810 vehicles in 2021, a record. The plant exports nearly 60 percent of its vehicles to about 120 global markets. For eight consecutive years, it has been the largest exporter by value in the United States. The model portfolio includes five top-selling BMW X models, four Motorsport X models, and two plug-in hybrid electric vehicle X models. The all-new BMW XM, the first electrified high-performance hybrid model in the BMW M portfolio, will begin production in late 2022. The factory has an annual production capacity of up to 450,000 vehicles and employs more than 11,000 people.