Eight steadfast North Carolina state employees have been celebrated for their enduring commitment to public service, each having contributed over four decades of work to make the state a better place. At a ceremony held at the State Archives of North Carolina, these dedicated individuals were honored with the 2025 Richard Caswell Award. According to the Office of State Human Resources, the award draws its name from the state's inaugural governor, symbolizing the pinnacle of state service excellence.
Collectively, the awardees represent various departments, totaling an impressive 360 years of combined service. In recognition of their dedication, named under the award's prestige were public servants from a range of roles including equipment superintendents, directors of network and engineering, service coordinators, and more. "State employees work hard each day to offer indispensable services to our state," State Human Resources Director Staci Meyer said, "Today we recognize a group of people who have dedicated their careers to North Carolina and define what it means to be a public servant," the Office of State Human Resources noted.
During the awards, Governor Josh Stein praised the longevity of the honorees' careers, attributing the efficiency and efficacy of state government to their vast institutional knowledge. With 25 years of service himself, Governor Stein remarked, "I thank this year’s Caswell Award recipients for their extended dedication to making North Carolina a safer and stronger state to call home," a sentiment echoed by many who understand the magnitude of their collective contributions, as per the Office of State Human Resources.
The ceremony, with ABC11 anchor Lauren Johnson at the helm as master of ceremonies, acknowledged each honoree for their dedicated service. A diverse roster of professions were represented, with awardees such as Mike Cabaniss from the Department of Transportation and Sharon Davis from the Department of Health and Human Services, walking proudly into recognition. Notably, some honorees, unable to attend, will have their Caswell Awards bestowed upon them by their respective agencies’ leadership at local ceremonies.
For those inspired by such steadfast service and looking to follow in the footsteps of these commendable public servants, opportunities abound. Further information about careers in North Carolina state employment is available on the Work for NC website.
