Request an Award

The Office of the Governor can grant awards to individuals or groups in North Carolina to recognize exemplary service. All North Carolinians, including state employees, are eligible for all awards. Please note that self-nominations will not be accepted for any awards. Awards are strictly honorary and not legally binding. Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

We currently require that all requests for awards must be received at least 90 days before the date you would like to receive the physical copy.

Thank you for your understanding.

Upon completion of your request, you will receive a confirmation email containing a case number (ID-XXXX). Please refer to this case number when contacting our office about your request. If you don’t receive a confirmation email with this case number, your request was not properly submitted to our office.

We do not take submissions for awards via email or by phone.

Award Guidelines

Please consider the following information before submitting an award request. The Office of the Governor reserves the right to decline any request or make exceptions to these guidelines:

  • All award requests must be made 90 days before the presentation date. All requests for retiring state employees must be submitted within 90 days of the nominees’ retirement date.
  • Late requests may not be processed in time for the preferred presentation date. The Governor’s Office reserves the right to request further or additional information about the nominee or event at any time throughout the approval process.
  • All award requests for state employees must be submitted within 90 days of the nominee’s retirement date.
  • The issuance of an award does not indicate or imply a direct endorsement from Governor Stein or the Governor’s Office.
  • If a nominee has received an Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award, he or she cannot be nominated for an Old North State Award.
  • Each type of award requires various documents of support. If the Office of the Governor does not receive all of the required supporting documents upon receiving the request, the award will not be processed, and you will be asked to resubmit.

The Governor can grant the following awards:

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine 

This is the highest award for state service granted by the Office of the Governor. Nominations can be made for retiring individuals who have 30 or more years of service in the State of North Carolina.

  • All submissions must include a biography of the nominee.
  • Non-state employee nominations must be submitted with three (3) letters of recommendation. Signatures are needed on all letters of recommendation.
  • State employee nominations must be submitted by a Human Resources Officer and include a statement of service, which details their years of service for the State.

The Old North State

Nominations can be made for individuals who have 20 or more years of service in the State of North Carolina.

  • All submissions must include a biography of the nominee.
  • Non-state employee nominations must be submitted with three (3) letters of recommendation. Signatures are needed on all letters of recommendation.
  • State employee nominations must be submitted by a Human Resources Officer and include a statement of service, which details their years of service for the State. 

Certificate of Appreciation

Granted to recognize the efforts of an individual, organization, or business. Nominations can be made for those who have contributed outstanding public service in North Carolina.

  • All submissions must include a biography of the nominee.
  • Non-state employee nominations must be submitted with three (3) letters of recommendation. Signatures are needed on all letters of recommendation.
  • State employee nominations must be submitted by a Human Resources Officer and include a statement of service, which details their years of service for the State. 

Laurel Wreath Award

Granted to individuals in North Carolina who have made outstanding contributions to sports or athletics.

  • All nominations should include supporting documentation including any previous athletic awards, news articles, or commendations, as well as a recommendation from a coach or athletic director.

Student Excellence Award

Nominations can be made by a non-family member who is the nominee’s principal, teacher, counselor, or school administrator for individual students to recognize outstanding service to their school or community beyond academic achievement.

  • Submissions must include a biography of the nominee and two letters of recommendation (with at least one from a school principal, teacher, counselor, or administrator). Signatures are needed on all letters of recommendation.
  • Recommendations cannot be submitted by parents or other family members.
     

Supporting Documents Needed at Time of Submission

Biography: please include details of the nominee’s years of service in North Carolina as well as any published works, newspaper articles, and notable leadership within a department, organization, or business. It is also appropriate to detail community involvement and volunteerism, and to provide stories about the nominee, descriptions of his/her life or other information that allows the Governor’s Office to gain an understanding of his/her character.

Letters of Recommendation: recommenders can include any person who can speak to the nominee’s service, work ethic, character, leadership skills, community involvement, volunteerism, etc. Anyone can be a recommender including but not limited to: congressional leaders, former teachers, coworkers, community leaders, religious leaders, mentors, students, family friends, etc. Recommendations should NOT be completed by immediate family members.

Statement of Service: only needed for State Employee nominees. Must be on HR letterhead and signed off by a Human Resources Officer from that particular agency. The HR document should clearly state the total years of service that the nominee has served.

To follow up on an award request, you can reach us at 919-814-2000 or via email at governor.request@nc.gov.

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