South Georgia Technical College 2000 and 2009 business technology graduate and Vice President of Student Affairs Eulish Kinchens of Americus was recognized by South Georgia Technical College as its 2026 “Alumna of the Year.” Her name was also submitted to the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) during its 2026 Fall Leadership Conference in Savannah, Georgia, where she was listed as an “Alumna of the Year” along with representatives from 21 other technical colleges.
“I am so proud to present Eulish Kinchens, graduating class of 2000 and 2009, as South Georgia Technical College’s 2026 Alumna of the Year,” said SGTC President Dr. John Watford. “It is my most sincere belief that Eulish Kinchens epitomizes the successful graduates of technical education and she is still very active in technical education and is helping the next generation of technical students today as our Vice President of Student Affairs.
“I am jealous of the rapport that Eulish has with our students,” said Dr. Watford. “Students love Eulish. She is willing to take up time and share her knowledge and wisdom. I thank you for your leadership and I am very proud to have you on our senior staff.”
This award honors exceptional alumni who have made significant contributions in their fields, demonstrated leadership in their communities, and serve as ambassadors of technical education in Georgia. The recognition and announcement took place at the South Georgia Technical College November Board of Directors meeting and during the 2026 Fall Leadership Conference in Savannah, where leaders from Georgia’s 22 technical colleges gathered to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of TCSG alumni.
This annual recognition underscores the role that TCSG plays in equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in today’s dynamic workforce. “We are honored to celebrate the achievements of these 22 outstanding alumni,” said TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier. “Their success stories illustrate the transformative impact of technical education in Georgia. These individuals not only exemplify the dedication and skill needed in today’s workforce, but also inspire others to pursue opportunities that lead to rewarding careers. Their accomplishments reflect the critical role our colleges play in developing a highly trained and adaptable workforce that drives Georgia’s economy forward.”
Eulish Kinchens came to South Georgia Tech after graduating from Tri-County High School. She lived on-campus in the same housing that she now oversees as the Vice President of Student Affairs. She enrolled in the Business Office Technology Program and earned her diploma in 2000.
She worked as an office assistant at Cooper & Lamberth Law Office in Americus while she attended classes. Her attention to detail and strong work ethics helped her land a work study position in the SGTC Student Affairs office. She turned that work study job into the beginnings of a career that has spanned over two and a half decades at South Georgia Tech.
Kinchens was hired as the Registrar Assistant after graduation and worked in that role for 14 years. During that time, she earned her associate degree in Business Administrative Technology and began a family. She moved to the SGTC Institutional Advancement office in 2014 and was employed as the Resource Development/Marketing Department Assistant through 2016. During that time, she was able to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from DeVry University.
With that four-year degree in hand, Kinchens was able to apply to become the SGTC Registrar. Then in 2019, she was promoted from Registrar to the Vice President of Student Affairs to oversee the department where she began her career at SGTC as a student worker.
The educational and professional career she began at SGTC has helped not only shape her future but also her family’s. Her daughter, Samiya K’Lynn Kinchens, attended SGTC as a dual enrollment student and later graduated from Clayton State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. She has passed her RN license and is working at Grady Hospital in Atlanta.
Kinchens father, Charlie Jones, Jr., attended classes at SGTC twice. Her brother, Philip Deon Jones, also took classes at South Georgia Tech twice and his son, Demarrion Jones, is a 2024 Barbering graduate. The choice to attend SGTC for Kinchens and her immediate family members as well as many other family members have help make several generations of successful SGTC alumni.
“Eulish Kinchens is a tremendous asset to South Georgia Technical College. In her position as the Vice President of Student Affairs, she demonstrates to students what they can achieve with a technical education. She received the fundamentals she needed here and was able to leverage that into an outstanding career that has already spanned two and a half decades. We hope she will be with us for many more years,” said Dr. Watford. “She is a dedicated employee and a champion of our students. I can think of no greater example of what an Alumna of the Year should be than Eulish Kinchens.”
The 2026 Alumni of the Year recipients come from diverse fields including healthcare, manufacturing, aviation, business, education, and information technology. Each individual leveraged their education and hands-on training from a TCSG college to make meaningful contributions in their respective industries.
“These remarkable individuals represent the very best of our colleges and our state,” said TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier. “Their stories are proof that technical education transforms lives and strengthens communities. From healthcare and business to aviation and technology, our alumni continue to shape Georgia’s workforce and lead with purpose.”
The TCSG Fall Leadership Conference where the Alumni of the Year names were revealed, provides an opportunity for college leaders and foundation boards to discuss future initiatives, best practices, and strategies to continue advancing technical education in Georgia. The Alumni of the Year award highlights the ongoing success of the system’s graduates and their influence on Georgia’s workforce development.