2025 Governor's Award for Excellence Recipients
Congratulations to the 2025 Governor’s Awards for Excellence winners!
The Office of State Human Resources was proud to present the Governor’s Awards for Excellence recipients for 2025. Sponsored by the State Employees Credit Union Foundation, the program recognizes outstanding employees nominated by state agencies and universities. This year, six individuals and teams of three, six, and seven employees were selected for awards in six categories: Customer Service, Efficiency and Innovation, Human Relations, Outstanding Government Service, Public Service and Safety and Heroism.
Learn more about each exceptional employee by watching short videos that tell their stories and reading their profiles below.
Customer Service
As associated director of scholarships and financial aid at North Carolina State University (NCSU), James "Jamie" Pendergrass plays a critical role in ensuring thousands of students can access the financial support to pursue their education. He oversees the administration of the Federal Pell Grant program and loan processing, manages system testing and compliance, trains and supervises staff, and serves as a key technical and policy advisor to leadership. Even in the best of circumstances, that would be a full plate. Read on to find out how he demonstrated unwavering dedication to the students of NCSU and beyond during a tumultuous time for financial aid offices and students nationwide.
Efficiency and Innovation
As Hurricane Helene made landfall, the devastation to our state's inland mountain towns was unexpected. Yet, when the National Guard was called to respond, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Robert Cerrato, Chief Warrant Office 2 Ian McIntosh, and Warrant Officer 1 Emilio Trevino stepped into their roles as geospatial engineering technicians and stepped up. Continue reading to learn how the three men not only coordinated lifesaving efforts in the wake of a disaster but revolutionized the way North Carolina — and the entire country — responds to emergencies.
As a transfer program coordinator for the University of North Carolina (UNC) System Office, Jami Holloway Dawkins works closely with the state’s 16 public universities to improve the experience of students transferring from community colleges, a complex and often confusing process that differs for every student. Over the past year, Dawkins has delivered a scale of change the UNC System has not seen in more than a decade. Read more to discover how Dawkins' visionary leadership has reshaped the UNC System's transfer ecosystem, dramatically expanding programs, partnerships, and tools that impact tens of thousands of North Carolina students.
Human Relations
As a maintenance construction technician at Chimney Rock State Park, Christopher Norrington is responsible for caring for the park’s buildings, vehicles, and trails, managing invasive species, and helping to educate the public on the park’s resources. While Norrington is accomplished in this role, it was his actions during and directly after Hurricane Helene that were award-worthy. Find out how Norrington became a lifeline for his community and a powerful example of what it means to be a public servant by reading more.
Outstanding State Government Service
As the extension office director for Buncombe County, Holly Jordan plays a key role in extending research-based knowledge from North Carolina State University (NCSU) to residents in the western region of the state. Under Jordan’s direction, extension officers engage with farmers, business owners, and families to identify local issues, collaborate with NCSU scientists to better understand and address problems, and deliver informed solutions to those in Buncombe County. Her day-to-day work is impressive, yet it was Jordan's response in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene that demonstrates outstanding state government service.
Public Service
As the senior psychologist for the State Bureau of Investigation’s Behavioral Threat Assessment unit, Dr. Nicole Jones conducts threat assessments, analyzes behavioral indicators, and consults on cases involving individuals of concern. Her daily responsibilities are already important in keeping North Carolina's residents safe. Read on to learn about her groundbreaking support for law enforcement officers when assessing threats and how her work represents a tremendous step forward in public safety, not just for those in North Carolina, but throughout the country and beyond.
In Dr. Christie Poteet’s role as assistant vice chancellor for student affairs, she focuses on supporting student success at the University of North Carolina Pembroke (UNCP). Through her work, Dr. Poteet makes an undeniable impact on UNCP students, but she takes serving others to the next level by leveraging her position to change the lives of residents of Robeson County. Read on to discover how Dr. Poteet has spent more than a decade leading initiatives that bring together UNCP's campus and the surrounding community to strengthen the region's long-term support systems.
Safety and Heroism
Whether it’s managing traffic incidents, designing erosion control plans, or enforcing traffic laws, Department of Transportation employees Scottie Coggins, David Hall, Garrett McFalls, Austin Phillips, and Christopher Strader and State Highway Patrol Trooper Joseph Henderson spend their workdays ensuring that North Carolinians can travel safely on our state’s over 100,000 miles of public roadways. Keep reading to learn how the courageous actions of these six employees went well beyond the scope of their duties to save numerous lives.
Prior to Hurricane Helene, Superintendent Chuck Melton, Assistant Superintendent Spike Gouge, Fish Culturists Doug Arfmann, Luke Clarke, and Kailee Winters, and Conservation Technicians Jacob Setterlind and Elijah Winters spent their days ensuring operations at Armstrong State Fish Hatchery ran smoothly. While these seven state employees endured a tragedy during the hurricane, they acted selflessly — amid their own distress — to prevent further tragedy through the loss of a life. Read more about their brave actions.