Faculty and staff at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) have nominated six 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 2026 award, including (from left to right) the instructor’s name and program:
- Nick Barton, program director and instructor of Horticulture
- Tyler Gayan, program director, assistant dean and instructor of Criminal Justice Technology
- Ronny Huggins, program director and instructor of Automation Engineering Technology
- Brandon Johnson, instructor of Welding and Joining Technology
- Pete Lute, program director and instructor of Automotive Technology
- Trevor Roberts, clinical coordinator of Ultrasound Programs and instructor of Adult Echocardiography
“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,” Padgett explained. “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 2026 Rick Perkins Award winner and move on to the regional competition.
The winning instructor will be announced at the GOAL and Rick Perkins Presentation Awards Banquet on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 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, 13,775 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. GNTC has an annual credit enrollment of 8,836 students and an additional enrollment of 4,939 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start.
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