Rawat named Holshouser Award winner for public service

An Elizabeth City State University professor has been named one of two University of North Carolina employees to receive the 2023 Governor James E. Holshouser Jr. Award for Excellence in Public Service.

Dr. Kuldeep Rawat, Marion D. Thorpe endowed professor in ECSU’s Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Engineering Technology and dean of the School of Science, Aviation, Health and Technology, was one of two recipients chosen for the award during the UNC Board of Governors meeting on Thursday.

The other recipient was Dr. Mike Smith, dean emeritus at the UNC School of Government, a professor of public law and government, and the former vice chancellor for public service and engagement.

The Holshouser Award, created in 2007 and renamed in 2013 for former Gov. James Holshouser Jr., honors UNC faculty “who exemplify the University of North Carolina System’s commitment to service and community engagement,” a press release from the UNC System states.

Rawat, who also serves as director of the university’s flagship aviation science program, began his tenure at ECSU as an assistant professor in fall 2004. During his 19-year tenure at the university, his work has included overseeing ECSU’s NASA Aerospace Academy and Mobile STEM Lab program, the release states. Both work with K-12 students from 21 county school districts in rural and economically disadvantaged areas.

“By giving students hands-on experiences in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, Rawat has opened a world of opportunity for families from all backgrounds and walks of life,” the release states. The NASA Aerospace Academy has affected more than 3,500 students, 100 K-12 teachers, and 600 parents during the past five years, and the Mobile STEM Lab has reached nearly 15,000 students, parents and teachers since 2017, according to the release.

Rawat’s work also focuses on helping ECSU students graduate with degrees in STEM fields and “moving into high-demand, high paying jobs” through partnerships with Apple, NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Federal Aviation Administration, the release states.

“We are very proud of Dr. Rawat and his outstanding work to enrich the legacy of ECSU, and to build new bridges that reach communities in the surrounding region and across the state,” ECSU Chancellor Karrie Dixon said in the release. “He is a shining example of ECSU’s public service mission, and we congratulate him on this well-deserved award.”

UNC Board of Governors Chairman Randy Ramsey also congratulated Rawat on receiving the award.

“Because of Dr. Rawat’s vision and hard work, students from the smallest towns in eastern North Carolina can discover new opportunities and build paths that will change the course of their lives for the better,” Ramsey said. “We thank Dr. Rawat for his incredible contributions to generations of North Carolinians and congratulate him on this award.”

The release also said that as architect of ECSU’s degree in unmanned aircraft systems, Rawat has helped establish ECSU as “North Carolina’s hub for drone activities.”

“Rawat has explored the use of drones in farming, land mapping, infrastructure inspection and conservation efforts along North Carolina’s coast,” the release states. “He also helped to establish the only UAS training facility in North Carolina, which now supports drone education for the farming community, energy companies, law enforcement and local and state agencies, among others.”

Rawat also applied for and won a federal grant to strengthen broadband access, workforce development and digital inclusion in the region.

“This was a major achievement given the region’s digital divide and its impacts on health, employment, wages, household income, population growth and other measures of economic vitality,” the release states.

UNC System President Peter Hans said that when he’s asked what makes North Carolina’s public universities special, he points to faculty like Rawat “who see the needs of their students and communities and respond by taking action.”

“Dr. Rawat is an outstanding faculty member who knows that teaching and public service go hand in hand, and that relationships and community — as much as education and research — are key to making the change we want to see in the world,” Hans said.