Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Math Instructor, Donna Norman, received the 2017 Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction, also known as Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year award.

The Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction is awarded annually. This award is designed to recognize and honor technical college instructors who make significant contributions to technical education through innovation and leadership in their fields. Instructors are nominated for the Rick Perkins Award by their peers. Competition among instructors occurs at the college, regional, and state levels.

Five finalists participated in the interviews, they were: Angela Grant (Business Education Instructor- Valdosta Campus), April Lott (Cosmetology – Coffee Campus), Don Mason (Math Instructor- Valdosta Campus), Donna Norman (Math Instructor- Ben Hill-Irwin Campus) and John Royals (Automotive Technology Instructor- Valdosta Campus). Norman will compete at the regional level in Tifton on the Southern Regional Technical College campus in February.
Norman was nominated by her peers throughout the college. She is described as “dedicated to her students and her duties as a math instructor. She works very hard with her students to teach them not only math skills but also work ethics.”   Norman has been teaching for 40 years, she joined the Wiregrass faculty nine years ago.  Teaching is certainly a passion of hers.  She has dedicated her life to helping and guiding students to be successful, giving them hope, encouraging them to be positive and to believe in themselves.  “It’s an awesome feeling to see my students get excited when they solve a problem and get it right,” shared Norman.

Nicole West, Student Navigator, serves as the Rick Perkins coordinator. Wiregrass employees Sabrina Cox, Jason Richardson, Shameca Robinson, Roy Warren, and Kelley Wetherington served on the screening committee.
The following instructors were nominated and participated in the selection process for the instructor award (in alphabetical order): Frank Barnett, Pharmacy Technology Program Coordinator and Exposure Control Coordinator; Kiva Brownlee, Adult Education Instructor; Denise Davis, Area Director- Health and Management Professions; Jim Goodson, Department Chair for Professional Services/Fire Science Technology Program Coordinator; Angela Grant, Business Education Instructor – Finalist; Randy Harrell, Math Instructor; Kristy Henderson, Area Director- Professional Services; Leigh Ingra, Cosmetology Instructor; April Lott, Cosmetology Program Coordinator; Don Mason, Math Instructor; Donna Norman, Math Instructor- Winner; Diann Riley, Patient Care Assisting Coordinator; Patsy Rivera, Criminal Justice Instructor; John Royals, Automotive Technology Instructor- Finalist;  Michael Seabolt, Department Chair for Technical Education/Industrial and Electrical Systems Program Coordinator; Danya Shealy, Business Administrative Technology Instructor; Charles Shelton, Biology Instructor; Tarnishia Sirmans, Associate of Science in Nursing Instructor ; Kyle Taft, Early Childhood Care & Education Program Coordinator; Joey Thompson, EMS/Paramedic Program Coordinator; Kerry Watts, Environmental Horticulture Program Coordinator; and Tabitha Wilcox, (Cosmetology Program Coordinator).

Norman will represent Wiregrass at the Regional interview competition in February at the Tifton campus of Southern Regional Technical College.  All college winners will represent their colleges in April at the state Rick Perkins and GOAL (student of the year program) awards event where the region winners and state winner will be announced.