Jennifer Dixon
Kimberly Carr
Sonya Alday
Susan Wheat
Trevor Roberts
Faculty and staff at Georgia Northwestern Technical College have nominated five 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 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 2025 award, including (from left to right) the instructor’s name and program:
• Sonya Alday, clinical coordinator and instructor of Emergency Medical Services (EMS);
• Kimberly Carr, instructor of Mathematics;
• Jennifer Dixon, assistant dean and instructor of Early Childhood Care and Education;
• Trevor Roberts, clinical coordinator of Ultrasound Programs and instructor of Adult Echocardiography; and
• Susan Wheat, program director and instructor of Radiologic Technology.
“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’s Rick Perkins coordinator and instructor of certified customer service specialist and public speaking.
“These nominees continuously go beyond what is expected of them not only to meet but to surpass the needs of their students,” Ms. Padgett said. “Our instructors are truly the best of the best!”
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 2025 Rick Perkins Award 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. 28, at the Courtyard by Marriot in Rome. The luncheon is sponsored by The Seven Hills Rotary Club, Rome Floyd Chamber and GNTC.