From our friends at the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources:
RALEIGH, N.C. – Just over two weeks remain to make a nomination for the 2016 North Carolina Award, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the state. The nomination period closes April 15, 2016. Created by the General Assembly in 1961, the award recognizes “notable accomplishments by North Carolina citizens” in the fields of literature, science, fine arts, and public service.
Award nominations may be submitted by Award Nominations may be submitted by anyone either online at http://www.ncdcr.gov/ncawards/nominations or by sending nomination materials to the North Carolina Awards Committee, N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, 4601 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-4601.
“This is the opportunity for us to pay tribute to the North Carolinians who better our experiences by their extraordinary involvement in this state,” says Susan Kluttz, Secretary of the N. C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. “Please nominate a co-worker, community leader, or friend who has served North Carolina with distinction.”
The North Carolina Awards Committee will review the nominations and make its selections in early summer. The recipients will be honored during ceremonies in Raleigh in September. Past award recipients have included some of the country’s most distinguished artists, poets, writers, performers, journalists, scientists and public servants; including William Friday, Romare Bearden, James Taylor, Gertrude Elion, John Hope Franklin, David Brinkley, Maya Angelou, Billy Graham, and Branford Marsalis.
Award recipients in 2016 were Anthony S. Abbott of Davidson for Literature; Dr. Anthony Atala, of Winston-Salem for Science; Senator James T. Broyhill of Winston-Salem for Public Service; Dr. A. Everette James, Jr., of Chapel Hill for Fine Arts; Howard N. Lee of Chapel Hill for Public Service; and Patricia McBride of Charlotte for Fine Arts.
The nomination form and guidelines are available online. To receive forms by mail or by e-mail contact Jennifer.fontes@ncdcr.gov or call (919) 807-7256.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state’s natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. Led by Secretary Susan Kluttz, NCDNCR’s mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to
experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state’s history, conserving the state’s natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development.
NCDNCR includes 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, two science museums, three aquariums and Jennette’s Pier, 39 state parks and recreation areas, the N.C. Zoo, the nation’s first state-supported Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, State Preservation Office and the Office of State Archaeology, along with the Division of Land and Water Stewardship. For more information, please call (919) 807-7300 or visit www.ncdcr.gov.