North Georgia Technical College recently announced photography instructor Jim Loring of Clayton as the winner of the school’s 2017 Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction.

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 Central Technical College, who received the Commissioner’s Award of Excellence prior to his untimely death.

Each year faculty and staff at NGTC nominate instructors who exemplify excellence in teaching. The nominees participate in a series of interviews which help determine the winner. As the award will go on to represent the college at the Technical College System of Georgia Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Education competition in the spring.

Loring’s teaching experience began in 1997 when he taught photojournalism as part of the journalism program at Surrey Institute of Art & Design in the United Kingdom. He has taught a full range of courses including photojournalism and commercial photography at NGTC since 2007.

Loring’s photographic experience spans more than 30 years with over 70 assignments worldwide.