Each year, The Center coordinates the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award in conjunction with our Key Volunteer of the Year.
Nominations open in the fall and all Triangle nonprofits submit their outstanding volunteers in several categories. An awards ceremony to recognize these volunteers is held each spring.
The Center coordinates this program for the Governor’s office for Durham, Orange, and Wake counties. County winners are selected and submitted to the Governor’s office, where they are considered for the State’s highest volunteer recognition, the Medallion Award, which is given to the top 20 volunteers in the state.
Things to remember as you nominate your outstanding volunteers:
-Multiple nominations are allowed
-Only one nominee in each Special Volunteer TYPE strongly encouraged so your volunteers are not competing against each other within that category
(Example nominate one Youth, one Senior, one Group/Team, etc.)
-Consider also nominating your corporate volunteers. This is a terrific way to not only recognize them, but it builds a stronger relationship that can also result in increased volunteers and even financial support
-The Narrative statement is very important! Please be specific and detailed about your volunteer’s impact to your organization
-TNVLC can assist in helping you develop your nomination if needed – just contact us!
Meet our 2021 Medallion Winners!
Wake County
Reverend Felix Iyoko
Shiloh Restoration Church, INC.
Orange County
Jane McCormick Hogan
General Davie Chapter, NSDAR
Durham County
Jane McCormick Hogan
General Davie Chapter, NSDAR
Reverend Felix Iyoko
Shiloh Restoration Church, INC.
Jane McCormick Hogan
General Davie Chapter, NSDAR
Helen Trotter, Evelyn Yankana, & Charlene Trotter
Urban Ministries of Durham
TNVLC Key Award Winners
Individual Category
Group Category
Youth Category
Senior Category
Individual Category
DeWarren K. Langley
Charles Hamilton Houston Foundation, INC.
Group Category
DeWarren K. Langley
Charles Hamilton Houston Foundation, INC.
Youth Category
Linden James
Kids Voting Durham
Senior Category
Jane McCormick Hogan
General Davie Chapter, NSDAR
DeWarren K. Langley
Charles Hamilton Houston Foundation, INC.
Helen Trotter, Charlene Trotter, & Evelyn Yankana
Urban Ministries of Durham
Linden James
Kids Voting Durham
Jane McCormick Hogan
General Davie Chapter, NSDAR
Faith-Based Category
Perseverance Category
Lifetime Achievement
Director of Volunteers
Faith-Based Category
Reverend Felix Iyoko
Shiloh Restoration Church, INC.
Perseverance Category
Chih-Wei Chuang
Blind Spot Animal Sanctuary
Lifetime Achievement
Marco Zárate
Co-Founder of the North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals
Director of Volunteers
Larry E. Thomas
Thomas Mentor Leadership Academy
Reverend Felix Iyoko
Shiloh Restoration Church, INC.
Chih-Wei Chuang
Blind Spot Animal Sanctuary
Marco Zárate
Co-Founder of the North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals
Larry E. Thomas
Thomas Mentor Leadership Academy
Wake County Winners
Mary Beerman – Horse and Buddy
Rosa Chrismon – SAFE Haven for Cats
Suzanne Comstock – Note in the Pocket
Marie Hopkins – SPCA of Wake County
Reverend Felix Iyoko – Shiloh Restoration Church, Inc.
Barbara Lesperance, RN – Urban Ministries of Wake County: Open Door Clinic
Bob Meadows – Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina
Cora Shores – Assistance League of the Triangle Area
Barbara Townson – Assistance League of the Triangle Area
Marco A. Zárate – Co-Founder of the NC Society of Hispanic Professionals
Orange County Winners
Dr. Dan Graham – CORA Food Pantry
Marcella Grendler – North Carolina Botanical Garden
Jane McCormick Hogan – General Davie Chapter, NSDAR
Walden Lechner – Orange County Disability Awareness Council
Mikey Muller – Musical Empowerment
Robert Nash – Bridge II Sports
Matt Newton – Ronald McDonald House-Chapel Hill
Wendy Schwade – Orange County Disability Awareness Council
Jennifer Thomason – Meals on Wheels, Orange County NC
Charles A. Williams – Orange County Disability Awareness Council
Durham County Winners
Mary Bell – Duke Homestead Education & History Corporation
Ann Elliott – The Scrap Exchange
Melissa Forde – Triangle Ultimate
Andrew Holland – Prince Hall Masons NC
Linden James – Kids Voting Durham
David McNeill – Families Moving Forward
Pauline Robinson – StepUp Durham
Justin Sprague – Boy Scouts of America
Lynn Sullivan – Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.
Group/Team: Helen Trotter, Evelyn Yankana, & Charlene Trotter - Urban Ministries of Durham
Larry E. Thomas – Thomas Mentor Leadership Academy