On Thursday, I joined Governor Perdue at the Museum of History to present the Governor’s Awards for Excellence to ten of North Carolina’s most deserving public servants. These state employees demonstrated courage, innovation and compassion for their fellow citizens. We presented awards to:
Lisa Edwards
Department of Environment & Natural Resources, Public Service
Mary Garner
Department of Health & Human Services, Safety & Heroism
Robin S. Greene
University of North Carolina General Administration, Innovations
Lieutenant Doug Hayes
Department of Crime Control & Public Safety, Public Service
Trooper Kevin Hennelly
Department of Crime Control & Public Safety, Public Service
Trooper Kirk Hensley
Department of Crime Control & Public Safety, Human Relations
Judy Jones
Employment Security Commission, Outstanding State Government Service
Beth Smyre
Department of Transportation , Outstanding State Government Service
Jonathan Sowers
Department of Insurance, Innovations
And for the first time in the nearly 30-year history of the program, we presented an award to an entire state agency --- the Employment Security Commission. Over the past year, the 3,000 plus employees of ESC have responded to extraordinary economic times with extraordinary service to North Carolinians who have found themselves out of work.
Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” Through their efforts and accomplishments, our award recipients demonstrated that belief. Serving the citizens of North Carolina is indeed work worth doing, and the Governor’s Awards for Excellence recipients have done it well.
North Carolinians are fortunate to have such dedicated public servants.
You may learn more about the Governor’s Awards for Excellence recipients at http://www.osp.state.nc.us/recognize/govaward.html.