Before a crowded banquet hall in Atlanta, Wiregrass Technical College’s Automotive Technology Program Coordinator and Instructor Jesse Davis learned he was one of the top nine finalists in the Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year awards program.
 
The announcement was made at the Technical College System of Georgia’s GOAL and Rick Perkins Award Conference held in Atlanta April 19-21.  Davis was one of twenty-two instructors from across the state of Georgia’s technical colleges named as a finalist. Davis was named Wiregrass’ Rick Perkins winner back in December.  He was one of 13 instructors from Wiregrass nominated for Rick Perkins.
 
Each college winner competed in the regional interviews in March to determine who would be the three to represent each region.  After being named one of the finalists, Davis, along with the other finalists, was interviewed by another panel of judges from across the state.  Dr. Angela Hines Brown of West Georgia Technical College was named the 2016 state Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year winner.
 
The Rick Perkins Award for excellence in technical instruction honors technical education’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.   
 
Davis received a trophy for being named as one of the top finalists along with an ipad. He is a graduate of Ben Hill-Irwin Vocational School where he graduated from the automotive program.  In 1994, he returned to the school as an evening adjunct instructor. Today, he is the Automotive Program Coordinator for the four campuses of Wiregrass and serves as the Automotive Technology Instructor for the Ben Hill-Irwin campus.
 
Jesse shared this about his experience, “It was quite an honor to represent Wiregrass and feel the support of my peers.  I had a wonderful week and returned energized by being with the other instructors who are tops in their field and have such a love and passion for what they do.  I truly feel you are where you are for a reason and purpose, and I just hope I have made a difference in the lives of others.”