In 1980, the late C. Knox Massey established an endowment creating the C. Knox Massey Distinguished Service Award. He served two decades as a University trustee and worked without pay to promote the statewide Good Health Campaign that led to the creation of a four-year medical school and teaching hospital at Carolina.

He then worked as a “dollar-a-year” special assistant to the chancellor, aiding in the development of scholarships, professorships and other awards. The criterion for this award is “unusual, meritorious or superior contribution made by an employee, past or present, to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The Employee Forum annually recognizes hard-working UNC staff through their Peer Recognition Awards each June. The Employee Forum Peer Recognition Awards include:

• Community Award: Three-Legged Stool (traditionally the Forum’s highest honor)
• Manager of the Year Award (previously awarded by the University Managers Association)
• Outstanding Encouragement of Learning and Development (OELD) Award (previously awarded by HR via the University Managers Association)
• Overton Leadership Award
• Pinnacle Award
• Professional Excellence Award
• Staff Member of the Year: Hall of Famer
• Staff Member of the Year: Perfect Addition

For more information about these awards, their criteria, and the nomination process, please visit the Employee Forum’s website.

The Ned Brooks Award for Public Service honors the contributions and values of Ned Brooks, who has served the University since 1972, making significant contributions to the mission of service and engagement, including a leadership role in the development of the Carolina Center for Public Service.

The Rebecca Clark Staff Award for Moral Courage, created in 2019, is the one award conferred to a staff member at the annual University Day ceremony in October. The award was named after Rebecca Clark (1915-2009), a former UNC Chapel Hill staff member, African-American political activist, and civil rights organizer, who fought against unequal pay and workplace discrimination. This award is given to a UNC staff member who demonstrates a courageous spirit, a willingness to speak out about inequality and discrimination, a strong sense of fairness and personal integrity, and a strong commitment to social justice, particularly as regards to treatment of fellow workers.

The Robert E. Bryan Public Service Award honors the memory and accomplishments of alumnus Robert E. Bryan (’26) of Newton Grove, NC, who worked his way through Carolina to become a successful businessman, entrepreneur and public servant. 

The Bryan Award recognizes individuals (students, faculty or staff) who, as representatives of UNC-Chapel Hill, have demonstrated outstanding engagement and service to the state of North Carolina by: working in partnership with community members; inspiring and involving others, and/or helping others to serve; responding to a practical problem, issue or concern of the state, and working to assure that the impact of their efforts in the community is lasting.