Awards are presented in seven categories:

1. Customer Service – Provided exceptional service that left the customer fully satisfied with their experience. Exceeded expectations to meet the needs of the customer. Added value to the customer experience.
2. Efficiency and Innovation – Improved the efficiency of state government services. Established new and/or improved methods, practices, plans or designs resulting in innovation, savings and/or efficiencies. This is an ideal area to nominate an employee who has thought of and implemented an employee suggestion that has proven successful.
3. 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).
4. 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. 
5. Public Service – Made outstanding contributions by participating in or implementing community and public service projects (such as volunteering with various non-profit organizations).
6. 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.
7. Spirit of North Carolina – Exemplified the state motto “To be, rather than to seem.” Mentored others in the pursuit of excellence.  Served as an ambassador for the State of North Carolina. This special award is reserved for exceptional circumstances and for accomplishments and achievements of the highest caliber.

Online Submission Checklist

• Employee’s name, work phone number, email and address
• Employee’s job title and basic job description
• Name and contact information for employee's supervisor
• Name and email for the GAE coordinator at the employee's agency/university (see next tab)
• A written summary of a minimum of 350 words explaining why the employee is being nominated.
  • For group nominations, an overall explanation of 350 words or more as well as details explaining each employee's specific contribution are required.
• Nomination category
• Consent from the nominee’s supervisor. 
  • The supervisor must be made aware of your intent to nominate the employee before you complete the nomination form.

Once you have this information ready, you are all set to begin the online nomination!

Number of Submissions Allowed Per Agency University

2023 Recipients

2022 Recipients

2021 Recipients

2020 Recipients

2019 Recipients

2018 Recipients

2017 Recipients