Rick Perkins Award
for Excellence in Technical Instruction

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 and honor technical college instructors who make significant contributions to technical education through innovation and leadership in their fields. The recipient of this distinguished award is recognized as Georgia’s Technical College System’s Instructor of the Year. Formerly known as the Commissioner’s Award of Excellence, the Rick Perkins Award was renamed in memory and honor of Thomas “Rick” Perkins, an instructor at West Central Technical College, who received the Commissioner’s Award of Excellence prior to his untimely death. The Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education (DTAE) provides oversight for the Rick Perkins Award program through the central office’s programming staff, the presidents’ STAR committee, and the state planning committee.

Instructors are nominated for the Rick Perkins Award by their respective technical college. Competition among instructors occurs at the consortia level, and a winner is selected from each consortium. The six consortia winners receive statewide recognition for their achievement, and then move to state-level competition. Final state-level judging occurs in September and the Rick Perkins Award Winner is announced at the Annual Lighthouse Banquet.

The Rick Perkins Award winner serves as an ambassador for technical education in Georgia. He or she will make many public appearances throughout the year including addresses to the Georgia General Assembly, the Governor, and the Georgia Technical College System Leadership Conference to name a few. Beginning in 2005, the Rick Perkins Awards Program will meet in conjunction with the Lighthouse Institute.

2005 Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction

Gerald Moody Okefenokee Technical College  Gerald L. Moody, 2005 State Rick Perkins Award (RPA) Winner, was born and raised in Brunswick, Georgia. Following graduation from Brunswick High School, he received an electronics diploma from Waycross Ware Technical School, now known as Okefenokee Technical College. Moody continued his education at Gwinnett Technical College and then received a CIS Networking diploma from Okefenokee Technical College. In 2004, he completed his associate’s degree in Business with emphasis in Computer Information Systems from Waycross College. Currently, Moody is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology from Valdosta State University and anticipates graduating in December of 2005. In March of 1996, Moody began his career at Okefenokee Technical College as a Technical Support Specialist and later became an Information Technology instructor in July of 2000. Moody’s notable achievements include: raised $500,000 in vendor donations for programmatic improvements; earned ten computer certifications through Cisco, Microsoft and Comptia; mentored and coached National Phi Beta Lambda design winners; developed an online advisement system for students and faculty to integrate with Banner and is used by DTAE technical colleges; enriched DTAE Computer Information Systems Standardized curriculum with industry-standard competencies; designed and constructed a networking lab; and received the Rotarian Community Award for Service Above Self. Prior to Okefenokee Technical College, Moody’s work experience includes working for Atlanta Data Comm as an applications engineer, AT&T as a data technician, and JVC as the lead technician. In November, Moody will celebrate his 20th wedding anniversary to the former Pam Thigpen. The Moody’s have two children – Joseph, 16 and Dana 15. His hobbies consist of just about anything he can do with his children: deer hunting, fishing, wakeboarding and water skiing. The Moody’s are members of New Hope Family Church in Brunswick and reside in Glynn County.

Photos from 2005
Rick Perkins Award Ceremony
click on an image to enlarge

MORE PHOTOS: Lighthouse Institute 2005