Macon, GA — Five exceptional instructors from Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) have been named as semi-finalists for the prestigious 2025 Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction. These instructors will advance to the next round of judging, scheduled for December 2025.
The semi-finalists selected for this year’s Instructor of the Year award include:
Deryk Stoops, AI Enhanced Robotic Manufacturing Instructor, Industrial Systems Technology Aerospace, Trade & Industry.
Brian Wynne, Mathematics Instructor, General Education.
Ekaterina Mirzakulova, Chemistry Instructor, Health Sciences.
Sonya Solomon, Instructor/Program Chair Dental Assisting, Health Sciences.
Lance Teele, Instructor/Program Chair Diesel Truck Maintenance Aerospace, Trade & Industry.
Deans from each respective division have praised the dedication and skill of these instructors, acknowledging their significant contributions to advancing the mission of CGTC and enhancing student success.
CGTC instructors are nominated for the Rick Perkins Award by their peers and undergo a rigorous selection process, which includes multiple interview panels. The final award recipient will be chosen from this group of finalists.
The Rick Perkins Award is part of a statewide program managed by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), honoring excellence in instruction and leadership across Georgia’s technical colleges. Each of the state’s 22 technical colleges selects a winner, and CGTC’s semi-finalists will move forward in the competition.
In Spring 2025, the winners from each college will compete in regional judging, where three finalists from each of Georgia’s three regions will be selected. These nine regional finalists will then advance to the state competition in April 2025.
About the Rick Perkins Award
The Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction honors the most outstanding instructors in Georgia’s technical colleges. Established in 1991, the award recognizes faculty who demonstrate innovation, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to advancing technical education. Originally known as the Commissioner’s Award of Excellence, the award was renamed in honor of Thomas “Rick” Perkins, a beloved instructor at West Georgia Technical College, following his untimely passing. The Technical College System of Georgia oversees the Rick Perkins Award program, with coordination from the state planning committee.
About Central Georgia Technical College
As one of the largest two-year colleges in the state, CGTC operates three campuses and five centers throughout central Georgia, serving more than 30,000 individuals annually. CGTC is focused on connecting graduates to careers by offering quality education services, assuring a well -qualified workforce to support a healthy local economy. CGTC is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia and is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. For more information about CGTC, visit www.centralgatech.edu. Like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/centralgatech), Twitter (@CGTC), and Instagram (@centralgatech).