Chris Davis, an Automotive Technology Instructor in the T.R. Reddy School of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Technology, has been named the 2026 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year Award winner for Augusta Technical College. The announcement was made virtually by Interim College President Dr. Melissa Frank-Alston via Facebook Live.

“As a proud graduate of technical education, I am honored to represent Augusta Technical College as a nominee for the Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year Award. This recognition is a privilege, and I am committed to using this platform to advocate for the value of technical education—a transformative force for students and the local workforce alike. From my beginnings as an automotive technician to my current role as an instructor, this journey has been both my calling and my passion. I look forward to representing my program, our college, and, hopefully, the state with pride and dedication.”

“We are deeply proud to recognize Mr. Davis as Augusta Technical College’s 2026 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year. His passion for teaching, dedication to student success, and commitment to excellence in automotive education exemplify the very best of our faculty. His recognition is a testament to the transformative impact our instructors have on the lives of our students," stated Dr. Melissa Frank-Alston.

Mr. Davis will represent Augusta Technical College at the regional competition at Central Georgia Technical College in Warner Robins on March 4. If selected as a regional finalist, he will participate in the state competition in Atlanta in April 2026.

The state winner will carry the title of Technical College System of Georgia’s Instructor of the Year and serve as the state’s ambassador for technical education. The winner exemplifies excellence and a commitment to the mission of the Technical College System of Georgia and makes many public appearances throughout the year, including addresses to the Georgia General Assembly, the governor and the TCSG Leadership Conference, to name a few. A $2,500 grand prize is also presented to the deserving award winner.

The Rick Perkins Award (RPA) for Excellence in Technical Instruction 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. 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.