On November 19, 2025, 22 state employees were honored with Governor’s Awards for Excellence (G-A-E) during a ceremony at the State Archives of North Carolina.
Sponsored by the State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation and hosted by ABC11 anchor DeJuan Hoggard, the GAE ceremony recognizes state employees who go above and beyond to serve the State of North Carolina and our people. The award is the highest honor a state employee may receive for dedicated service to the State of North Carolina and its residents. Following the ceremony, award recipients and their families were invited to a reception at the Executive Mansion.
Photo: DeJuan Hoggard. Photo Credit: by NCDOA, Jayce Williams
“I applaud this year’s recipients of the Governor’s Awards for Excellence for their work to support North Carolinians,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Their dedication embodies the highest ideals of public service and serves as an inspiration to all state employees. I thank the honorees for all they do to help build a safer, stronger North Carolina.”
This year’s award-winning actions and innovations include providing life-saving aid during Hurricane Helene, ensuring that public education remains accessible, creating groundbreaking technologies, and more.
“This award recognizes state employees who go above and beyond to serve our state. Our vision at OSHR is to elevate public service, and when I look around this room, I see people that defines what it means to serve,” said State Human Resources Director Staci Meyer.
Photo: Presenting of the flags. Photo Credit: NCDOA, Jayce Williams
Photo: Director Meyer gives her remarks. Photo Credit: NCDOA, Jayce Williams
The biographies of the 22 honorees are available on the N.C. Office of State Human Resources’ website. The 2025 Governor’s Awards for Excellence honorees are:
Customer Service
• Jamie Pendergrass, North Carolina State University
Efficiency and Innovation
• Robert Cerrato, Ian McIntosh, and Emilio Trevino, Department of Public Safety
• Jami Holloway Dawkins, University of North Carolina System Office
Human Relations
• Christopher Norrington, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
Outstanding Government Service
• Holly Jordan, North Carolina State University
Public Service
• Nicole Jones, State Bureau of Investigation
• Christie Poteet, University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Safety and Heroism
• Scott Coggins, David Hall, Joe Henderson, Garret McFalls, Austin Phillips, and Christopher Strader, Department of Transportation and State Highway Patrol
• Doug Arfmann, Luke Clarke, Spike Gouge, Chuck Melton, Jake Setterlind, Elijah Winters, and Kailee Winters, Wildlife Resources Commission
Photo: The Audience gives a standing ovation for award recipients. Photo Credit: NCDOA, Jayce Williams