South Georgia Technical College Cosmetology Instructor Dorothea Lusane McKenzie was presented with a check from Synovus in Americus recently after she was selected as the SGTC Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year for 2026.
Each year Synovus or the former SB&T branch presents the winner of the South Georgia Technical College Instructor of the Year award with a stipend. This year South Georgia Technical College Cosmetology Instructor Dorothea McKenzie was selected for that honor. McKenzie was recognized by South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford at the 2026 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year Award breakfast celebration in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on the Americus campus in front of SGTC faculty, staff, and friends.
Emory Parker, Market President of Synovus-Americus presented the donation to Dorothea McKenzie on behalf of Synovus during the ceremony. “Synovus is proud to support South Georgia Technical College and its excellent instructor with this stipend, said Parker. “This is Synovus’ way of giving back to you for your work with your students and our community. We are pleased to support South Georgia Technical College and partner with an organization that is responsible for preparing a better workforce for our community.”
South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford thanked Synovus and Emory Parker for their support of this program. “We appreciate Synovus’ partnership with South Georgia Technical College and their continued support of the Instructor of the Year program,” said Watford.
Newly named Instructor of the Year Dorothea McKenzie also thanked Synovus for the generous donation. This was McKenzie’s second Instructor of the Year selection. She earned the award in 2020. She will now compete in the Technical College System of Georgia regional and state Instructor of the Year competition.