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Presented at the Fayetteville Hotel & Convention Center, Fayetteville, N.C. on Thursday, March 6, 2008.
William T. Alderson Lifetime Achievement Award (retired professional): None in 2008.
Memorial Award (posthumous): None in 2008.
Professional Service Award (active professional): Richard "Dusty" Wescott, N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh
- Excerpts from the nomination letters:
"Dusty exemplifies what a museum professional should strive to be. He truly cares about museum standards and is always willing to lend a hand to other museums.
"I have had the pleasure of knowing Dusty for 15 years, through his years at the Natural Sciences Museum, Raleigh City Museum, and now, at the North Carolina Museum of History. As he has taken on increasingly more difficult tasks, he has grown as a professional. Running the Raleigh City Museums for years with a staff of two tends to make you stretch in new ways. Throughout that period he always had a smile on his face and opened new exhibits.
"The same could be true of his tenure as President of NCMC. Thrust into the role at a time when NCMC was taking on the management of the 1000/100 project, Dusty shepherded the council through some interesting times with aplomb. His mantra was always “how can we get more people involved” and he kept things uncomplicated enough so that they could be.
"Dusty has never met a stranger. He continues in his role as the SEMC (Southeast Museums Conference) representative for NCMC to forge new alliances for the council. I think we would do well to honor Dusty for his constant role as officer and spokesman in service to NCMC, and the museum profession at large."
- John M. Campbell, Collections Manager, North Carolina Museum of History, Raleigh
"Dusty Wescott is a natural museum professional, for it is literally “in his blood.” He was raised in and around museums as his father directed the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science in Durham for many years. His father’s work no doubt influenced Dusty’s career path while instilling in him an unbridled enthusiasm for museums.
"Dusty worked for the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences during the 1980s and 1990s fabricating and maintaining exhibits. The Raleigh City Museum hired him in the 1990s to manage their exhibit program. Ultimately, he served as curator and acting director for that institution. Along with one other staff member, he kept the Raleigh City Museum open and viable during some lean times during the early 21st century.
"He has been a key player in North Carolina’s museum world throughout his career. Dusty demonstrated leadership in numerous professional organizations, including many roles in the North Carolina Museums Council. He served as treasurer, vice president, and president. He continues to be an active participant in the group’s future and currently works on a committee reassessing the group’s long-range plan.
"Friendly, unassuming, and energetic, Dusty is an immediate friend to young professionals and a trusted confidant to seasoned colleagues. He enjoys an ability to see the positive of any situation and to spread this feeling to people around him.
"The time and talent Dusty brings to the museum profession have long been apparent to people who know him. Therefore, it is most appropriate that he be recognized by the museum community for his many contributions to its well being."
- Harry S. Warren, Director, North Carolina Museum of Forestry, Whiteville
"For many years I have had the pleasure of working with Dusty on an array of NCMC projects. His commitment to our organization has been unwavering. The projects and tasks he has performed at various museums and, more specifically, on NCMC’s behalf, are too numerous to recount. Suffice it to say that he has long served and supported our membership and our profession during terms as NCMC’s treasurer, vice president, president, past-president, and on both ad-hoc and standing committees. Invariably, Dusty has carried out all of his assignments and duties, not only with true dedication, but also with a ready smile and infectious sense of optimism. Dusty is a first-rate professional who certainly deserves special recognition and this very special award."
R. Neil Fulghum, Keeper, North Carolina Collection Gallery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
"For me Dusty was always a “to-to” individual for NCMC. His passion for our organization and for the museums of North Carolina instilled confidence in me and all those who worked with him over the years.
"Dusty epitomizes this award. His service to NCMC over the past 15 or more years has been unselfish, energetic, and always professional. He runs a “mean” conference hospitality suite!"
Dr. Bev Sanford, Director, SciWorks, Winston-Salem
Mid-Career Professional Award: Emily Grant, N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh
- Excerpts from the nomination letter(s):
"The best word to describe Emily Grant is “inspiring.” However, “dedicated,” “motivated,” “inventive,” and “awesome” are good descriptions, too. She is the Youth Programs Coordinator at the North Carolina Museum of History and has worked in that capacity since 1993.
"Emily teaches “Time for Tots” lessons, which present history on a preschooler’s level, to the museum’s youngest visitors twice a month. She developed the museum’s summer camps program in 1995 and has managed from nine to thirteen camps each summer since its inception.
"In addition to programs for children, Emily coordinates several large annual events at the museum. She has directed the American Indian Heritage Celebration for the past eleven years and the African American Cultural Celebration for the past seven years.
"She is a great communicator between the sections in the museum and is doggedly positive in making compromises that work for all involved. Emily has a true gift for seeing the big picture and relating a variety of projects to the museum’s mission.
"I have admired Emily’s talent in her position and dedication to the field of public history. She is to be commended for her work at the North Carolina Museum of History and for her collaboration with other organizations in this state."
- Rachel Dickens, Education Programs Coordinator, North Carolina Museum of History, Raleigh
Early Career Professional Award: Sara Drumheller, Historic Oak View County Park, Raleigh
- Excerpts from nomination letter(s):
"Sara was hired as the Assistant Park Manager at Historic Oak View in August of 2005. Prior to then, she had worked at the park as an intern during some of her undergraduate and graduate school years. Since her first days at Oak View she has been a dedicated and innovative employee, and over time has developed into a first-rate manager while becoming a wonderful representative of the site and a proficient public historian and scholar.
"Sara’s work ethic and dedication have had a tremendous impact on Historic Oak View. Every aspect of the park’s operation that she has managed has become more efficient, more productive, and better for the public.
"Historic Oak View County Park is a site with only two full-time employees. To productively run a program as large as our—with only two staff—a tremendous responsibility lies with both staff members. As someone just starting out in the field, Sara bears this responsibility with grace and skill beyond her experience. As her supervisor and, in many ways, her partner in this profession, I cannot imagine working with an individual that I trusted or valued more than Sara."
- Emily Catherman, Park Manager, Historic Oak View County Park, Raleigh
Service Award for an Individual Volunteer: Dave Carnell, Cape Fear Museum of History & Science, Wilmington
- Excerpts from nomination letter(s):
"Dave, a former DuPont engineer, has volunteered with Cape Fear Museum of History and Science for over 22 years.
"Dave followed up on a Small Boat Journal reader’s request for plans of a regional vessel, the Simmons Sea-Skiff. He contacted the boat builder who lived in Myrtle Grove Sound near Wilmington, to get a copy of his boat plans. When Simmons said he never used plans, Dave received his permission to take the lines off one of his original Sea-Skiffs. The plans were sold through the Museum Store. Later Dave took the lines off the 20-foot and the 22-foot vessels.
"As of July 2007, the Museum Store has sold over 2,048 Simmons Sea-Skiff plans worldwide. Dave has written articles about the skiff for several magazines. Additionally, he was the guest curator for the exhibit A Boat for All Seas and co-author of the exhibit catalog.
"In 1997 the David W. Carnell Maritime Pavilion was dedicated in his honor. The pavilion houses eight boats unique to the region. The Museum’s collection includes four original Simmons Sea-Skiffs.
"There is no doubt that Dave has made important contributions to the maritime history of southeastern North Carolina and to the growth and success of Cape Fear Museum."
- Karen Smith, Coordinator of Volunteer Services, Cape Fear Museum of History and Science, Wilmington
Service Award for an Organization: None in 2008.
Service Award for Staff Contributions: Gene Moore, Old Salem Museums & Gardens, Winston-Salem 
- Excerpts from nomination letter(s)
"Gene began his career at Old Salem in 1990 and was promoted to Director of Facilities one year later. Gene has taken on several large projects, including the massive renovation of the Coca-Cola plant for use by Old Salem’s archaeology, facilities, custodial, and agriculture departments. He has worked tirelessly with contractors on construction and/or renovation on the Frank L. Horton Museum Center, the construction of the Old Salem Visitor Center and the reconstruction of the St. Philips Log Church.
"While supervising a team of twelve full-time employees, Gene also completed large fencing projects on Salem Square and the Voltz Lot, did major repairs and upgrades to the office level of the 1769/1786 Single Brothers House, a total renovation of the Butner Hat Shop, and extensive work on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the 1800 Winkler Bakery.
"His tireless dedication and countless hours spent supervising and implementing the plans to continuously improve the grounds and architectural treasures in Old Salem make Gene an asset to the museum and worthy of this award."
- John C. Larson, Vice President for Restoration, Old Salem Museums & Gardens, Winston-Salem
Service Award for Stewardship: None in 2008.
Student Memorial Scholarship Award: Sarah Cunningham, Graduate Student, UNC Greensboro (left)
Student Scholarships: Bradley Pearce, Appalachian State University, and Lisa Zerovich, Graduate Student, UNC Greensboro
NCMC Internship Award: None presented in 2008.
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