Awards & Recognition

ECU Awards

 

Treasured Pirate Awards

Fourteen ECU faculty and staff are Treasured Pirates. (Photo by Rhett Butler)

The Treasured Pirate program annually recognizes the exemplary efforts made by its most prominent faculty and staff whose distinguished contributions further ECU’s mission. The program invites any faculty or staff at East Carolina University to nominate an employee for the Treasured Pirate Award. Faculty and staff may be nominated for outstanding performance that goes beyond the normal expectations in their roles, or for distinguished accomplishments that result in extraordinarily successful outcomes for the university and its’ people, public service to the community, or to the region that ECU serves.

The 2024 Treasured Pirate Nomination Period is now open through August 31, 2024!
Click here to access the Nomination Form!

Please refer to the Treasured Pirate website or program guide for information on the revised program guidelines.  Click here to see Nomination Examples and to view the Nomination Rubric.

Click on the links below to see the past Treasured Pirate Award Winners!

2019     2020     2021     2022     2023

 

State Service Awards

The Service Awards Program is designed to serve as a sign of the Institutions appreciation towards the dedicated service its employees provide to the State of North Carolina and that of the UNC education system throughout their tenure. Service awards are presented to each eligible employee at milestone dates in their career (every five years) until retirement.

Eligibility

Each year, East Carolina University recognizes its employees in the following time allotment, for every five (5) complete years of State service. Those employees are recognized in the form of a Service Award. It is very important to the Chancellor, University, and State that each eligible employee is appropriately recognized for his/her service to the State North Carolina and this heralded Institution.

Years of eligible service are determined according to the number of full-time years that an employee has contributed to the TSERS or ORP.

If an employee has had a break-in-service or a period where he/she did not contribute to the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System or Optional Retirement Program, that lapsed period would not be applied toward receiving a Service Award.

Service Awards Correction Form

If you believe there is a discrepancy with the number of years of State Service we have indicated or if there is an error with the spelling of your name (official Social Security namesake), download the Service Awards Correction Form (PDF) and email it to Learning & Organizational Development at HRDevelopment@ecu.edu.

Picking Up Your Gift

Visit the ECU Dowdy Student Stores in the Main Campus Student Center to view your gift options and pick up your gift. For help locating your gift, visit the Customer Service Desk at the back of the store. You will need to present your completed gift voucher along with a photo ID to receive your gift. Your gift voucher will be sent to your ECU email from HRDevelopment@ecu.edu on the first day of the month after you accrued your service award milestone.

If you have any questions, please contact 252- 328-9921 or HRDevelopment@ecu.edu.

You can view your gift options online before pick-up at Service Award Gift Options.

 

Centennial Awards

The Centennial Awards for Excellence represent the highest awards given to ECU faculty and staff for excellence in each of the following areas: Service, Leadership, Ambition, and Spirit. The Centennial Awards for Excellence are given annually with up to three recipients per category. The selection process will be the result of peer nominations and selection by the Centennial Awards for Excellence Committee.

For information on where to send a nomination, refer to the ECU Centennial Awards Website.

 

NC Governor’s Office Awards

 

NC Governor’s Awards for Excellence

The Governor’s Award for Excellence (GAE) is the highest honor a state employee may receive for dedicated service to the State of North Carolina and its residents. Nominations may be submitted by coworkers, managers and/or university leadership to recognize any exemplary state employees who lead by example and contribute well beyond their normal job requirements.  The nomination period for the 2024 Governer’s Awards for Excellence will be open from March 1, 2024 through April 12th, 2024.

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.

Qualifying Employees
ECU nominees must be state employees with permanent appointments. This includes SHRA, CSS, and DMSS employees who have achieved career status, as well as faculty and EPS staff positions.  ECU employees in temporary positions or in a probationary status are not eligible to be nominated for these awards.

For additional information, refer to the NC Office State Human Resources Governor’s Award Website or contact the University Coordinator, Rob Weatherly, at weatherlyr19@ecu.ecu.

 

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 employees must submit three (3) letters of recommendation and a statement of service from Human Resources on letterhead, if available. All nominations of state employees must be submitted by a Human Resources Officer and include a statement of service. Please note that all award requests for state employees must be submitted within 120 days of the nominee’s retirement date.

For additional information or to submit an award request form, refer to the NC Office State Human Resources Governor’s Award Website.

 

The Old North State

Nominations can be made for individuals who have 20 or more years of service in the State of North Carolina. These submissions must be accompanied by a biography of the nominee and a statement of service from Human Resources on letterhead, if available. All award requests must be made 120 days before the presentation date, with the exception of retiring state employees. 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. All requests for retiring state employees must be submitted within 120 days of the nominees’ retirement date.

For additional information or to submit an award request form, refer to the NC Office State Human Resources Governor’s Award Website.

 

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. Submissions must include a biography and a statement of service from Human Resources on letterhead, if available. All award requests must be made 120 days before the presentation date, with the exception of retiring state employees. All requests for retiring state employees must be submitted within 120 days of the nominees’ retirement date.

For additional information or to submit an award request form, refer to the NC Office State Human Resources Governor’s Award Website.

 

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. All award requests must be made 120 days before the presentation date, with the exception of retiring state employees. All requests for retiring state employees must be submitted within 120 days of the nominees’ retirement date.

For additional information or to submit an award request form, refer to the NC Office State Human Resources Governor’s Award Website.

 

Student Excellence Award

Nominations can be made by a non-family member who is the nominee’s principal, teacher, counselor, school administrator, or community leader 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). Recommendations cannot be submitted by parents or other family members. All award requests must be made 120 days before the presentation date, with the exception of retiring state employees.

For additional information or to submit an award request form, refer to the NC Office State Human Resources Governor’s Award Website.