Note: The following item was provided by Georgia Northwestern Technical College for publication. – KtE
Faculty and staff at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) have nominated eight of their peer instructors for the Rick Perkins Award of Excellence in Technical Instruction competition.
The Rick Perkins Award honors the Technical College System of Georgia’s (TCSG) most outstanding instructors. The award has been an ongoing statewide event since 1991 and is designed to recognize technical college instructors who make significant contributions to technical education through innovation and leadership in their fields.
Listed are the nominees for the 2024 award, including (from left to right) the instructor’s name and program:
∙ Robert Browder, program director and instructor of Commercial Truck Driving
∙ Jennifer Carter, instructor of Psychology
∙ Jennifer Dixon, assistant dean and instructor of Early Childhood Education
∙ Julia Hopkins, instructor of Computer Information Systems Technology
∙ Deanna Hulsey, instructor of Cosmetology
∙ Kimberly Temple, clinical coordinator and instructor of Respiratory Care
∙ Dwight Watt, instructor of Computer Information Systems Technology
∙ Deseri Wooten, coordinator and instructor of Nursing Simulation Lab
“We are very fortunate at Georgia Northwestern Technical College to have instructors who care so much about the students and the learning process. Our instructors are always working to provide the best information and tools for learning,” said Beverly Padgett, GNTC Rick Perkins coordinator.
“These nominees continuously go beyond what is expected of them not only to meet but to surpass the needs of their students,” she explained.
Formerly known as the Commissioner’s Award of Excellence, the award was renamed in honor and memory of Thomas “Rick” Perkins, an instructor at West Georgia Technical College, who received the Commissioner’s Award of Excellence prior to his untimely death.
The Technical College System of Georgia provides oversight for the Rick Perkins Award programs through the system’s office, the college presidents’ Academic Affairs Committee and the state planning committee.
A screening committee of administrators and staff at GNTC reviewed each of the nominated instructors and conducted personal interviews with the nominees. From the screening committee interviews, a winner will be chosen to represent the college as GNTC’s 2024 Rick Perkins winner and move on to the regional competition.
The winning instructor will be announced at the GOAL, Rick Perkins and EAGLE Presentation Awards Luncheon held Tuesday, Jan. 30, at noon at the Courtyard by Marriot in Rome. The luncheon is sponsored by The Seven Hills Rotary Club, Rome Floyd Chamber and GNTC.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College provides quality workforce education to the citizens of northwest Georgia. Students have the opportunity to earn an associate degree, diploma or a certificate in aviation, business, health, industrial or public service career paths. This past year, 11,601 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. GNTC has an annual credit enrollment of 8,071 students and an additional enrollment of 3,530 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start. For more information about GNTC, visit us at www.GNTC.edu. GNTC is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia and an Equal Opportunity Institution.
