Skip to main content

Mary Frances Hester Service Award

This annual award is presented to a current or retired employee of NC State Continuing and Lifelong Education who exemplifies the traits that former McKimmon employee, Mary Frances Hester, demonstrated during her 38 years of public service. These trademark characteristics include dedication, loyalty, commitment, and quality in effectively addressing constituency needs, providing a supportive work environment, and contributing to the goals of continuing and lifelong education and the land grant mission of NC State University.

The Award will be presented annually in November at our holiday luncheon to an appropriate nominee.

photo of the Mary Frances Hester Award

Qualifying Characteristics

Nominees will be current or retired employees of NC State Continuing and Lifelong Education units who have been instrumental in successfully identifying and addressing relevant constituent needs. Among the qualifying characteristics to be considered in the nomination process will be:

  • Exemplifies the spirit of service thereby enhancing NC State’s commitment to public engagement.
  • Provides dedicated and loyal public service in the creative and innovative development, implementation, and evaluation of lifelong learning course.
  • Improves the quality of life for North Carolina’s citizens through the application of NC State University’s knowledge and technical resources.
  • Utilizes state-of-the-art techniques and customer-sensitive approaches that maximized awareness of and access to outreach/extension initiatives.
  • Extends the University to previously underserved citizens.
  • Provides a supportive work environment that contributed to the goals of NC State Continuing and Lifelong Education and the land-grant mission of NC State University.

Read the full description of Hester Award criteria.

2025 Committee Members

  • Hilen Flores
  • Joyce Barron
  • (OLLI) Kim Little
  • (OPD) Leslie Brim
  • (CUACS) Chris Gregory
  • (MCTC) Carmen Dunn – 2024 Winner –

2024 Committee Members

  • Hilen Flores
  • Joyce Barron
  • (BO) Holly Foz
  • (OLLI) Kim Little
  • (OPD) Leslie Brim
  • (CUACS) Chris Gregory
  • (OPD) Carolyn Howard – 2023 Winner –

Nomination Process

Nominations for the Award will be received and reviewed by the committee. Nominations with supporting evidence are to be submitted in letter form, not to exceed three (3) pages including attachments. Nominations may be submitted with an identified nominator or anonymously (if anonymous, please identify yourself to the committee chair so that he/she can follow up if any questions arise; this information will be kept confidential).

Award Recipients

  • 2024
    Carmen Dunn
  • 2022-2023
    Stacie Varner
  • 2021-2022
    Joyce Barron
  • 2019-2020
    Carrie Bjorkquist
  • 2018-2019
    Sheila Brown
  • 2017-2018
    Robert Chapman
  • 2016-2017
    Randy Jones
  • 2015-2016
    Ben Garner
  • 2014-2015
    Tricia Inlow-Hatcher
  • 2013-2014
    Debby Hagemann
  • 2012-2013
    Valerie Jones
  • 2011-2012
    Chip Futrell
  • 2010-2011
    Lloyd Brown
  • 2009-2010
    Freddie Sinclair
  • 2008 – 2009
    Yevonne Brannon
  • 2007 – 2008
    Chris LaBrie
  • 2006 – 2007
    Alice Warren
  • 2005 – 2006
    Jo Anne Upchurch
  • 2004 – 2005
    Mary Frances Hester