The University of Wisconsin System honored four state professors Friday, commending them for their excellence in the classroom.

The Alliant Energy Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Awards are given out annually to professors in the UW System who show dedication to serving undergraduate students.

Doug Bradley, communications director for the UW System, said the university welcomes any awards or grants given to teachers who display the characteristics of a good educator.

"Awards like these are public indications of the high quality UW faculty teaching that leads to substantial intellectual growth in our students," Bradley said. "Frankly, we don't have enough opportunities to properly recognize all the outstanding teaching that goes on every day across the UW System."

Two of the four recipients teach at UW-Madison: Kenneth Mayer, a professor of political science, and David Nelson, a biochemistry professor.

"It's a real honor to be named an Underkofler Award recipient," Nelson said. "It takes a lot of dedication to stick with a profession like teaching, especially at the college level. It's nice to be rewarded for that once in a while."

The other two recipients are Thomas Klubertanz, a professor of biological sciences at UW-Rock County and Kristopher Wright, an assistant professor of biology at UW-Platteville.

In addition to meeting teaching criteria set by a UW System committee composed of various professors, the selected professors must teach at a UW college that lies within the service area of Alliant Energy.

Each recipient is awarded a $3,500 grant in appreciation for his or her teaching efforts.

UW System President Kevin Reilly presented this year's awards at a ceremony held in UW-Madison's Van Hise Hall.

The awards program represents a 14-year partnership between the UW System and the Wisconsin Power and Light Foundation, now part of Alliant Energy. The awards are given in honor of James Underkofler, a long-time senior executive with the company who retired in 1990, to pay tribute to his interest in promoting undergraduate teaching excellence.