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OTC Instructor of the Year

OTC's 2023 Instructor of the Year Award Recipient Chris Page, Paramedicine Technology Program Director, was recently named Ogeechee Technical College’s 2023 Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction recipient at the annual Spring Faculty & Staff Meeting and Awards Ceremony held on January 24th in the Jack Hill Building.

The Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction is an annual, statewide competition that honors the Technical College System of Georgia’s most outstanding instructors. Started in 1991, this honor recognizes technical college instructors who make significant contributions to technical education through service, innovation, and leadership in their field.

“I never thought 10 years ago that I’d get to experience a moment like this,” said Page. “We have an incredible group of faculty here at Ogeechee Tech and I’m honored to join a long list of amazing instructors who have gone on to represent OTC as the Rick Perkins Award winner.”

Page’s dedication to creative instruction was a common thread expressed by his nominators, one of whom wrote, “He has been very creative with the space in our building, taking advantage of empty labs and offices to create simulation rooms, giving his students real-life situations to practice with mannequins. In these times where health care professionals are extremely difficult to find, he has grown his program and has had students excel in the field.”

The Faculty/Staff Meeting and Awards Ceremony, hosted by OTC President Lori Durden, is an opportunity for college faculty and staff to come together and celebrate the victories and achievements of the past year – among those is the Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction.

“Chris’s success in the classroom stems from his ability to transfer his real-world experience as an EMT and firefighter into realistic and engaging health care scenarios in the classroom,” said Durden. “Not only are our EMTs and paramedics being well trained, but they have been prepared to provide the absolute best care to members of our community in times of need.”

Page, holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Georgia Southern University, and a Masters of Public Administration from Valdosta State University. He holds 16 professional certifications and has served as a firefighter for the Statesboro Fire Department, as an EMT-Paramedic for the Emanuel County EMS, and currently serves in those same capacities for Bulloch County EMS and the Bulloch County Fire Department.

Following OTC’s nomination, Page will interview in the regional competition in Tifton on February 21st. If selected as one of three finalists from the region he will move on to compete for the state title the week of April 24-26th in Atlanta.

Other faculty and staff honored during the ceremony include:

Kristie Sanders – Leadership Award

Amanda White – Support Staff of the Year Award

Justin Goodman – Diamond Award

Jennifer Oglesby – Adjunct Instructor of the Year Award

If you want to know more about the Paramedicine Technology Program at Ogeechee Technical College please visit www.ogeecheetech.edu/EMSP.

Goodman Receives OTC’s Diamond Award

Justin Goodman, Industrial Systems Instructor and Program Coordinator for Economic Development at Ogeechee Technical College, was recently presented the Diamond Award at the annual spring faculty and staff meeting.

The Diamond Award recognizes and honors an exceptional employee who goes the extra mile and exemplifies excellence in such things as customer service, innovation, improved efficiency, a positive attitude, teamwork, community service and exemplary service to the College. All employees of the College are eligible for this award, including part-time employees, and are nominated by their colleagues.

One nominator wrote, “I am continually amazed by his professionalism, dedication to his job, and his willingness to be an ‘all in’ team player. Always putting the college, his colleagues, and the students he trains first.”

Goodman who has been working at Ogeechee Tech since February of 2017, previously worked at Briggs & Stratton for 11 years as a technician and then as a Facilities Supervisor and A-Training Instructor. His extensive Industrial Systems training includes dozens of certifications including, Six Sigma Green Belt Certification, two FANUC Robotics Instructor Certificates, and most recently 14 SACA and 4 PMMI certifications. www.ogeecheetech.edu

W. Bede Mitchell Honored as Kiwanian of the Year

Kiwanian of the Year Bede Mitchell was honored at The Kiwanis Club of Statesboro’s 63rd Anniversary Party on Thursday, February 23rd. The party was held at the community building on the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fairgrounds. The winner is selected by the last three Kiwanians of the Year and recognized for their exceptional conduct and services to the community and club. Mitchell currently serves on the executive board as the club’s secretary.

Trish Tootle, past president of the club and incoming Kiwanis District Ten Lt. Governor made the presentation to Mitchell who is responsible for ordering the plaques for award winners each year. Club members had to hide the fact that Mitchell had won the award in order to surprise him.

Mitchell has been a member of the Statesboro Kiwanis Club for 23 years. He served as Dean and University Librarian at Georgia Southern University’s Zach S. Henderson Library from 1999 until his retirement in 2019. „