Starlyn Sampson named SGTC 2022 Instructor of Year
South Georgia Technical College Auto Collision and Repair Instructor Starlyn Sampson has been selected as the 2022 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year for South Georgia Technical College (SGTC), announced President Dr. John Watford at a special ceremony held in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on the Americus campus in front of SGTC faculty, staff, and friends.
“Thank you so much,” said Starlyn after he was recognized. “I have been an instructor here for 18 years and I was a student here in 1991 when we were still known as South Georgia Technical Institute. I remember telling my instructor, Mr. Kelly, that one day I am going to run your shop.” Even though Mr. Kelly laughed at the time, that is exactly what happened about 18 years ago when Sampson joined the South Georgia Technical College faculty as the new Auto Collision and Repair Instructor.
“I teach from my heart,” said Sampson. “I am a shop guy. I am more comfortable in the lab or the shop area. When I first got here, I didn’t know much about classroom teaching or filling out the paperwork required of instructors, but there were some great people here who pitched in and helped me. I am forever grateful to them for their help and mentoring.”
Sampson, SGTC Math Instructor Chester Taylor, Heavy Equipment Dealer and Service Technology Instructor Don Rountree, and Psychology Instructor Dr. Michelle Seay were the four finalists for the SGTC 2022 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year.
“I would like to congratulate each one of these instructors because they are all very deserving,” said President Watford. When I look at the four disciplines represented here, auto collision and repair, math, psychology, and heavy equipment, I think about how each one is different but also very valuable. It would be like having a car, boat, pick-up truck, and a motorcycle. They are all great and useful, they just serve different purposes. That is true of most of our instructors and our programs of study.”
SGTC Academic Affairs Dean and Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year coordinator David Finley opened the ceremony and talked about the Rick Perkins Award process. He recognized and thanked each of the finalists for agreeing to participate in the process. He also recognized the members of the 2022 Selection Committee. They included: Dr. Dorothy Ingram, Superintendent of Webster County Schools; Mr. Harley Calhoun, Principal Schley County Middle/High School; Mr. Brian Barnhill, Principal of Taylor County High School; Dr. Donald Gilman, CEO Ignite Academy Americus; and Elizabeth Suggs, Work-Based Learning Coordinator & Retention Manager of Ignite Academy in Americus.
Chef Ricky Watzlowick, SGTC’s culinary arts instructor and the 2021 Instructor of the Year, spoke briefly prior to the announcement of this year’s winner. “I have truly enjoyed this year. Last year, I was floored when I learned I had won. But the support that I received from everyone has been wonderful. I am honored to have been able to represent the college as the Instructor of the Year this past year. My goal as an instructor has always been to help students learn and have fun while they are learning. If I can help you in any way, I will be right there.”
Prior to the announcement of the winner, South Georgia Technical College Vice President of Academic Affairs David Kuipers and Academic Dean Dr. David Finley highlighted key facts about the four finalists. Kuipers said, “these instructors are great representatives of our college. Each one does something different but each of them was recognized for going above and beyond in their program area. They are making a difference in the lives of students. They are all much more than their education or their work experience. It is the things that they do over and above their regular duties that qualify them for this honor.”
Then Kuipers introduced SGTC Heavy Equipment Dealer Service Technology instructor Don Rountree and noted that he was a graduate of the SGTC Diesel program. He later earned an associate’s degree and Bachelor of Science. “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,” is the philosophy that Rountree brings to his classroom and lab. He also pointed out that everyone has had one or two teachers that made a difference in their life and he wanted to be one of those teachers.
Dr. Michele Seay was one of the longest serving instructors nominated. She has been with South Georgia Technical College for approximately 25 years. She began working in Adult Education and then transferred to credit teaching in 2000. She has degrees in Psychology, Sociology, Counseling and a doctorate. Her advice to other instructors was, “get to know your students and their backgrounds so you can know how to best help them.” She believes that people need to be in a safe welcoming place to learn. People may not come to South Georgia Tech to major in psychology but the things they learn in her classroom will help them become a better employee or even employer.
SGTC Math Instructor Chester Taylor has been at South Georgia Tech since 2015. His goal is to make math as painless as possible and get students excited to be learning. His philosophy is not to be afraid to reach out and ask questions. Take the time to find a way to get involved on campus. Find an area that fits and strive to help students be able to succeed in the world of work.
Dr. David Finley introduced the 2022 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year Starlyn Sampson and said he has been here 18 years and he is known as the type of teacher who doesn’t sit in the office. He has eight different projects that his students are working on in the lab, and he is quick to show students how to do different tasks more efficiently. “Mr. Sampson teaches students life lessons in addition to workforce skills. He cares about his students and is always looking for how he can help those people who need direction in their lives. People leave him better than when they come in.”
After Sampson accepted the Instructor of the Year award from Dr. Watford, he was presented with a monetary gift from Synovus Bank in Americus and also recognized with a monetary stipend from SGTC President Emeritus Sparky and Allene Reeves. As the SGTC 2022 Instructor of the Year Starlyn Sampson will be presented with the Instructor of the Year banner to hang outside his program area. He will also receive a premiere parking spot near his classroom for an entire year with Instructor of the Year signage.
The Rick Perkins Award 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.
As the SGTC Instructor of the Year for 2022, Sampson will compete with other Instructor of the Year nominees at the regional level, where three finalists will be chosen to represent the region in Atlanta in the statewide competition. The state winner will make many public appearances throughout the year, including addresses to the Georgia General Assembly, the governor and the TCSG Leadership Conference, to name a few, and will receive a $1000 grand prize. In addition to competing for the statewide Rick Perkins Award, Sampson will also deliver the commencement address at SGTC’s graduation ceremony in December 2022 as part of the Instructor of the Year honors.