Chris Davis, an automotive technology instructor at Augusta Technical College, has been named the college’s 2026 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year, officials announced Dec. 12.
Davis, who teaches in the T.R. Reddy School of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Technology, was selected as the college’s nominee for the Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction.
The announcement was made virtually by Interim College President Dr. Melissa Frank-Alston during a Facebook Live event.
“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,” Davis said. “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.”
Frank-Alston said Davis exemplifies the mission of the college and the impact of technical education.
“We are deeply proud to recognize Mr. Davis as Augusta Technical College’s 2026 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year,” she said. “His passion for teaching, dedication to student success, and commitment to excellence in automotive education exemplify the very best of our faculty.”
Davis will represent Augusta Technical College at the regional Rick Perkins competition on March 4 at Central Georgia Technical College in Warner Robins.
If selected as a regional finalist, he will advance to the state competition in Atlanta in April 2026, according to a press release from Augusta Tech.
The state winner earns the title of Technical College System of Georgia Instructor of the Year and serves as an ambassador for technical education, making public appearances throughout the year, including addresses to the Georgia General Assembly, the governor and the TCSG Leadership Conference.
The state winner also receives a $2,500 grand prize.
The Rick Perkins Award honors outstanding instructors within the Technical College System of Georgia and has been presented annually since 1991.
Formerly known as the Commissioner’s Award of Excellence, it was renamed in honor of Thomas “Rick” Perkins, an instructor at West Georgia Technical College according to a press release from the Augusta Tech.
