Awards & Recognition
ECU Awards
Treasured Pirate Awards
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 closed.
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 East Carolina University State Service Awards program provides recognition of ECU faculty and staff who have achieved total state service (including state service earned during time worked for other state agencies) of 5 years or more, recognizing faculty and staff in 5-year increments through retirement.
Eligibility
Every month, East Carolina University recognizes its faculty and staff who have achieved total state service of five (5) years or more in 5-year increments. 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.
Each faculty or staff member who achieves this will receive an email notifying them of the award in the month following their service anniversary. The email will be followed by a certificate of service appreciation that will be presented to the faculty or staff member by their division or department leadership.
State Service Award Gifts
Faculty and staff who have achieved ten (10) or more years of total state service will also be issued a virtual credit voucher that may be redeemed at the ECU Dowdy Student Store in the Main Campus Student Center. The gift voucher amount will be included in the email sent to each award recipient from peopledevelopment@ecu.edu based on the table below.
| Years of Service | $ Amount for Gift |
|---|---|
| 10 years | $30 to use toward a gift in the store |
| 15 years | $50 to use toward a gift in the store |
| 20 years | $75 to use toward a gift in the store |
| 25 years | $100 to use toward a gift in the store |
| 30-35 years | $125 to use toward a gift in the store |
| 40+ years | $150 to use toward a gift in the store |
State Service Award Ceremony
Towards the end of the calendar year, faculty and staff celebrating 30 or more years of state service (in 5-year increments) during this calendar year will be invited to attend the annual State Service Award Ceremony held near the beginning of the spring semester. Attendees will be presented with a plaque honoring their state service milestone by senior leadership during the ceremony. Special awards will be presented during the ceremony to those faculty and staff who have reached 45 years or more of state service.
State Service Awards Corrections & Questions
If you believe there is a discrepancy with the number of years of State Service we have indicated, if there is an error with the spelling of your name, or if you have any other questions about the State Service Award program, please send an email to the Learning & Organizational Development team at peopledevelopment@ecu.edu.
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 Governor’s Awards for Excellence will be open from March 1, 2024 through April 12th, 2024.
Awards are presented in seven categories:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- Public Service – Made outstanding contributions by participating in or implementing community and public service projects (such as volunteering with various non-profit organizations).
- 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.
- 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.