The awards recognize notable attainments of North Carolinians in the fields of Literature, Science, the Fine Arts, and Public Service. 

The first medals were awarded in 1964 to 5 recipients. Since then, more than 250 notable men and women have been honored by the state of North Carolina.

Note on the biographies: The profiles on this website come from the commemorative programs published for the annual North Carolina Award ceremony. Except in extraordinary circumstances, subsequent activities or awards have not been noted. Where possible, the years of birth and death (if necessary) are also included in each profile. This date information was culled from press reports, obituaries, web articles, and various directories, as well as the NC Award profiles themselves. Absence of this information means that the State Library was unable to find any reliable source for these dates.

Note on the images: Pictures of the award winners on this website are for information purposes only. Generally, the pictures are not in the public domain. Use of the pictures may constitute an infringement of copyright. Permission for commercial use (e.g., re-publication in articles or books) should be sought from the award winner or his/her legal representative.