Governor Stein Announces DMVA Secretary Mallette as Host of North Carolina Awards
Today Governor Josh Stein announced that North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Secretary Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, will serve as the host of the 2026 North Carolina Awards. On November 17, Governor Stein will present six distinguished North Carolinians with the state’s highest civilian honor. Proceeds from ticket sales for the awards ceremony will go to two charities that benefit veterans and military families: Blue Star Families and Camp Corral.
“Over the past six decades, many remarkable North Carolinians have received the North Carolina Award. Our 2026 recipients represent the best of our state, and it is a privilege to honor these outstanding individuals,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I am also honored to focus this year’s awards ceremony on supporting active and former servicemembers. Secure your tickets today for a memorable night celebrating our honorees and supporting North Carolina’s servicemembers, veterans, and military families.”
“It is a privilege to host this year’s North Carolina Awards and to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our 2026 honorees,” said Secretary Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “This event not only recognizes excellence across our state but also strengthens support for the veterans and military families who serve our nation and enrich communities across North Carolina."
“We are honored to have Secretary Mallette, a third-generation servicemember herself, host this year’s North Carolina Awards ceremony,” said Pamela B. Cashwell, secretary of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. “As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of our country, this event provides an opportunity to honor our state’s heroes while celebrating our six exceptional award winners.”
In August 2025, Governor Stein announced North Carolina became a Do Your Part State – a joint initiative between Blue Star Families and the National Governors Association. Blue Star Families is a national nonprofit organization that supports military families through the challenges of military life by better connecting them with the communities they live in during their servicemembers’ military assignments. Camp Corral is a national nonprofit organization committed to supporting the children of wounded, ill, and fallen servicemembers through recreational and educational programming that helps build emotional resilience and transformational skills.
The North Carolina Award was created by the General Assembly in 1961 to recognize significant contributions to the state and nation in the fields of fine arts, literature, public service, and science. Since the award’s inception, more than 300 notable men and women have been honored by the state of North Carolina. Past recipients include William Friday, James Taylor, Etta Baker, Maya Angelou, Lee Smith, Eric Church, Selma Burke, and Branford Marsalis. Last year, the 2025 North Carolina Awards also celebrated eight Helene Heroes, raising nearly $200,000 for the North Carolina Community Foundation to continue its Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. People interested in attending North Carolina Awards on November 17 may secure tickets here. Learn more about sponsoring the awards event here.
The North Carolina Awards Committee consists of Nina S. Szlosberg-Landis (Chair), Margaret Abrams, Joe Sam Queen, Tom Terrell, and Margaret Weller Stargell. The awards are managed by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
The 2026 Award Recipients are:
- Literature: Jason Mott
- Public Service: Richard Petty
- Public Service: Lt. Gen. Kevin Vereen (Ret.)
- Public Service: Randy Woodson
- Science: Lindsay Zanno
- Fine Arts: Beverly McIver
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