Autumn Milburn, a diagnostic medical sonography instructor in the Augusta Technical College School of Health Sciences, has been named the 2025 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year, the college announced Jan. 16.
Milburn is a graduate of the Medical College of Georgia.
“It is an honor to be nominated for this award, I am very excited to be able to represent the college as the 2025 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year for Augusta Technical College,” said Milburn, in a news release from Augusta Technical College “My life experiences are why I entered the medical field and what I use as motivation to pour as much into my students as I can. I have been able to witness how technical education through Augusta Technical College can change a person’s life. We are able to offer them a great education that will provide well for themselves and their family.”
Over her career with the college, she has assisted with career fairs, summer camps within the School of Health Sciences, student recruitment opportunities with numerous high schools in the CSRA, and student recruitment with LAUNCH Academy.
“Augusta Tech congratulates Ms. Autumn Milburn for being selected as this year’s Rick Perkins Award Winner. She is a dedicated educator and healthcare expert that has a deep passion for educating the next generation of sonography professionals. We’re excited to have her represent our faculty regionally and through the TCSG state competition,” said Dr. Jermaine Whirl, college president.
Milburn will represent Augusta Technical College at the regional competition at Central Georgia Technical College in Warner Robins Feb. 26. If selected as a regional finalist, she will participate in the state competition in Atlanta in April 2025.
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.
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