A Roanoke Rapids native was among six University of North Carolina employees to receive the 2019 C. Knox Massey Distinguished Service Award for their “unusual, meritorious or superior contributions.”

Deborah Hawkins, manager of parking and control and event operations in Transportation and Parking, was among the six to receive a $10,000 stipend and award citation.

The employees were chosen from campus-wide nominations by Interim Chancellor Kevin M Guskiewicz and were honored at a Saturday luncheon.

“These amazing colleagues who, through their dedicated work and commitment to excellence, continually up the pace of progress at the Carolina we cherish and love,” Guskiewicz said. “We thank them for their service to our university and our state. They are the soul of this most public of the public universities.”

The late C. Knox Massey of Durham established the award in 1980. In 1984, Massey joined the families of his son, Knox Massey Jr., and daughter, Kay Massey Weatherspoon to create the Massey-Weatherspoon fund. Income from the fund supports the Massey Awards and Carolina Seminars. This year marks the award’s 40th anniversary.

Nearly 75 colleagues nominated Hawkins, praising her leadership, operational experience, responsiveness and logistical savvy.

She earned a bachelor’s degree from Carolina in 1988 and in 29 years of service to the University, she has overseen parking for the arrival and departure of two U.S. presidents, one first lady and two vice presidents. Though visits from dignitaries are uncommon, large-scale event parking is as regular as the 10,000-student migration each semester and as untimely as a funeral. In 2017, the Employee Forum presented Hawkins with its highest honor, the Three-Legged Stool Award, recognizing those who promote cooperation and collaboration among faculty, staff and students.