RALEIGH
Sep 23, 2016
Photo, from left: Dr. Assad Meymandi, Dr. Paul Modrich, Robert Brown, Dr. Linda Birnbaum, Governor Pat McCrory, Dr. Aziz Sancar, Joseph Bathanti and James Gardner.
Seven North Carolinians were honored for their achievements Thursday evening by Governor Pat McCrory, who awarded each recipient with the state's highest civilian honor, the North Carolina Award. The awards were presented at a ceremony at the Raleigh Marriott City Center.
The 2016 honorees include Joseph Bathanti of Vilas for Literature; Dr. Linda S. Birnbaum of Chapel Hill for Science; Robert J. Brown of High Point for Public Service; James C. Gardner of Rocky Mount for Public Service; Dr. Assad Meymandi of Raleigh for Fine Arts; and Dr. Paul L. Modrich and Dr. Aziz Sancar, both of Chapel Hill, for Science. A video tribute to each winner is available on the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources website.
Also recognized were the N.C. Teachers of the Year from across the state. Those in attendance included Bobbie J. Cavnar, 2016 Statewide Teacher of the Year, South Point High School; Brandon Brown, Lake Norman Charter School; Olivia Hall, Roseboro-Salemburg Middle School; Angel Ledbetter, Rutherford Early College High School; Margaret C. McNeill, Dunn Middle School; Marie Smith, Conway Middle School; and Katie Snyder, Hoggard High School. The Governor honored these teachers for creating the next generation of potential North Carolina Award winners.
This event is generously sponsored by Diamond Sponsor United Guaranty; Gold Sponsors Bob Barker Company and Joseph M. Bryan, Jr.; Silver Sponsors Appalachian State University, Duke Health, PepsiCo, Thomas S. Kenan III, and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine; Supporting Sponsor PotashCorp-Aurora; and Event Sponsors Creative Visions and Melloweb. Special thanks to Lenovo for sponsoring the Teachers of the Year recipients. No state monies are used for this event.
For more information, please visit http://www.ncdcr.gov/ncawards. The awards are administered by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Note to Editors
B-roll from the awards ceremony is available for download here and additional images are available on NCDNCR's Flickr site.
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.