It didn't take long for Kevin Ward to make it to the top.

In only his fourth year of teaching at Augusta Technical College, Mr. Ward, 38, was named Thursday as the recipient of the Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction, making him the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education's instructor of the year.

"I was very surprised and honored because all of the instructors at Augusta Tech are worthy," he said.

As the top tech instructor, Mr. Ward will be given $1,000 and will serve as the Department of Technical and Adult Education's ambassador, touring the state and giving speeches, spokesman Michael Light said.

Mr. Ward's travels will also take him to the state Capitol, where he will address Gov. Sonny Perdue and the General Assembly.

Mr. Ward, the head of Augusta Tech's marketing-management program, was announced as the winner during a banquet at the Augusta Marriott Hotel & Suites. Earlier in the day, 33 nominees - one from each technical school - were whittled to six finalists.

As an instructor, Mr. Ward gets to enjoy his two passions, teaching and business, he said.

Seeing his students absorb his classes, graduate and then apply those lessons in the workplace are the highlights of his job, Mr. Ward said.

"Mr. Ward exhibits excellent professionalism, work ethics and human relationship skills, which makes him an outstanding role model for his students," Augusta Tech President Terry Elam wrote in his nomination letter.

The instructor came "highly recommended" for the honor by his students, Mr. Elam said Thursday.

"When we had a chance to hire him, I knew he would be something special, and he's turned out that way," the president said.

The other finalists were Karen Carter, of Atlanta Technical College; Greg Roach, of North Georgia Technical College; Deanne Collins, of North Metro Technical College; Bee Hart, of Southeastern Technical College; and Tamara Bryant, of Southwest Georgia Technical College.

The award is named for Thomas "Rick" Perkins, an instructor at West Central Technical College who was killed in an auto accident in 1997.