Secretary’s Award for Excellence
Nomination Rules

Nominations must comply with the following rules.  The Secretary’s Award for Excellence Selection Committee will not consider nominations that do not comply with the rules.

• To submit a nomination simply complete the web based nomination form below.  

• All information on the nomination form must be complete in order for your nomination to be considered.

• All nominations must be submitted by the 15th, of each month.  If your nominee is not chosen for the Secretary’s Award for Excellent during the current month their nomination will automatically be reconsidered in future months.  (in other words it is not necessary to re-nominate an individual unless the committee needs to be presented with additional information that might strengthen the nominees case.)

Qualifying Employees

Nominees must be permanent state employees who are Subject to the Personnel Act. Nominees must have made major contributions reflecting credit on themselves and State service. The accomplishments must be so outstanding that special recognition is justified.

Award Categories

Outstanding State Government Service — Exhibited unselfish devotion to duty far and above the normal requirements and contributed significantly to the advancement of state service to the citizens of North Carolina. 

Innovation — Initiated fruitful study and investigation or successfully established new and outstanding methods, practices, plans or designs. (If an employee has been recognized by the State Employees’ Incentive Bonus Program for this innovation, they are not eligible for the Award for Excellence.)

Public Service — Made outstanding contributions by participating in or implementing community and public service projects (such as volunteering with various non-profit organizations).

Safety and Heroism — Demonstrated outstanding judgment or courage in an emergency, voluntarily risking his/her life, or exhibited meritorious action to prevent injury, loss of life or prevented damage to or loss of property.

Human Relations — Made outstanding contributions toward enhancing the quality and morale of the workplace or creating a better public image of state government (such as positive personal interaction with other employees; public awareness; working on relations internally within an agency; or collaboration between different agencies).

Spirit of North Carolina - Exemplified the state motto “To be, rather than to seem.” Helped others in the pursuit of excellence.  Served as an ambassador for the State of North Carolina