More than 200 North Carolinians have been selected as recipients since the award was first issued in 1964.

During a ceremony at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Cary, Gov. Mike Easley presented awards for service in fine arts, literature, public service and science.

SCIENCE: VINEY P. ANEJA

Aneja, a native of India, received his master's and doctoral degrees in chemical engineering at N.C. State University, and after working in industry, he became a member of the faculty in NCSU's Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.

He has developed a research program in agricultural air quality that is recognized worldwide. In 2001, he was also appointed professor of environmental technology in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources.

Aneja and his wife, Poonam, live in Raleigh.

PUBLIC SERVICE: JERRY C. CASHION

Cashion grew up in Iredell County and took an early interest in nearby Fort Dobbs, the fortification erected by frontier settlers as a defense from Cherokee attacks. His career as a historian and teacher has focused on North Carolina and the United States. From 1974 to 2000, Cashion was research branch supervisor of what is now the Office of Archives and History in the state Department of Cultural Resources. Cashion, a widower, lives in Raleigh.

FINE ARTS: JAN DAVIDSON

Davidson has served as director of the John C. Campbell Folk School since 1992. Founded in 1925 at Brasstown in Clay County in the southwestern corner of the state, the school offers about 850 classes to more than 3,000 students in art forms such as blacksmithing, basketry, weaving, music, storytelling and writing.

A native of Cherokee County, Davidson worked as a disc jockey at WCVP in Murphy, played in a rock band and completed undergraduate studies in English at UNC-Chapel Hill and a master's degree in folklore. A project on blacksmithing developed into his Ph.D. dissertation. Davidson and his wife, Nan, live in Brasstown.

FINE ARTS: ROSEMARY HARRIS EHLE

Ehle has supported the N.C. School of the Arts in Winston-Salem since 1967, and she serves on its board of visitors. Born in Ashby, Suffolk, England, Ehle grew up in India and was educated in England.

Ehle made her London debut in 1952 in "The Seven Year Itch." Her stage career included roles opposite Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole and Laurence Olivier. She received a Tony Award for her role as Eleanor of Aquitaine in "The Lion in Winter," a Golden Globe for her role in the television miniseries "Holocaust" and an Emmy for her role in "Notorious Woman." Most recently, Ehle has enjoyed popular acclaim as Aunt May in three Spider-Man movies.

She is married to author John Ehle, a North Carolina Award winner in literature. They live in Winston-Salem and Penland.

PUBLIC SERVICE: HENRY E. FRYE

Initially interested in agriculture, Frye attended N.C. Agricultural and Technical College, where he later changed his major to biology with a double minor in chemistry and air science. He served two years in the Air Force.

After graduating from law school at UNC-CH, Frye became the first African-American elected to the N.C. General Assembly in the 20th century. He served in the House of Representatives until 1980, when he was elected to the state Senate. In 1983, Frye was appointed to the state Supreme Court. His appointment as chief justice in 1999 made him the first African-American to lead the state's court system.

Frye lives in Greensboro with his wife, Shirley Taylor Frye.

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