Grace Dilda, a processing assistant with the Department of Public Safety’s Controller’s Office, received the Richard Caswell Award at a ceremony today in honor of her long years of dedicated service to the state of North Carolina.
“Grace Dilda exudes noteworthy dedication to her work and has such an incredible heart for public service,” said DPS Secretary Erik A. Hooks. “Her outstanding attitude, strong work ethic and joy for her job make her a rare gem in our department, and I’m glad her long-time commitment to the state is being recognized.”
Dilda began her career with the N.C. Department of Revenue in 1967 as a typist, where she worked for four years. She resumed public service with the Department of Revenue in 1976. Nine years later, she was transferred to the Department of Public Safety’s (then Department of Correction) Controller’s Office, where she has worked for the past 32 years.
“Miss Grace is a consummate professional who greets everyone at Yonkers Road with a warm smile and a heartfelt ‘Good morning,’” said DPS Controller James Cheroke. “She is an integral part of the Controller's Office and exemplifies unwavering dedication and commitment to our core values on a daily basis. Her exemplary service to the Department sets the standard to which we should all aspire. For 45 years, she has always found a way to make the day a little brighter for so many people. For this, and countless other reasons, we owe Grace our sincere thanks and appreciation.”
To be eligible for the Caswell Award, an employee must meet the following criteria:
- Completed a total of 45 years of state service by the end of the calendar year for which the award is being presented;
- Be in good standing with no unresolved disciplinary actions;
- Be an employee of an agency in the executive and judicial branches of state government, or the university system, including elected officials, department heads, university chancellors and employees of the General Assembly; and
- Have not previously received the Richard Caswell Award.
In the past five years, only seven employees – including Dilda – within the Department of Public Safety have received the Caswell Award.
The Richard Caswell Award was established in 1998 to honor loyal, efficient and dedicated employees with 45 or more years of service in all areas of state government. The Office of State Human Resources administers the program and coordinates a statewide or agency level ceremony for eligible employees.
It is named after Richard Caswell, who served as governor of North Carolina from 1776-1780 and again from 1784-1787, acting as state controller in between the two terms. Caswell served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 and then as a state senator until his death.
(Pictured above from left to right are: Director of State Human Resources Barbara Gibson, First Lady of North Carolina Kristin Cooper, Grace Dilda and DPS Secretary Erik A. Hooks.)
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