Event

2026 Triangle Child Care Awards

Date Friday, March 27, 2026

Time 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Location The Friday Center
100 Friday Center Dr. Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599 United States

RSVP

Every two years, Early Years gathers community leaders, child care providers and advocates to celebrate the dedicated individuals working to ensure the Triangle’s children receive the highest quality of early care and education.

Join us in recognizing a group of dedicated professionals who work each day to guarantee our children have the best possible start in life as we present the Early Years Public Service Award, the Dorothy B. Graham Early Childhood Leadership Award and the Mary Y. Bridgers Early Childhood Teacher Award.

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

About the Awards

Early Years will present the following three awards recognizing the impact of early childhood educators, public servants and the community on young children and their families.

Nominations are closed

Early Years Public Service Award

Because young children cannot speak for themselves, they are often dependent on public officials and community advocates to speak on their behalf and to create public policies that will protect them and enrich their lives. Therefore, the Early Years Public Service Award was created in 2000 to recognize and honor volunteers and elected public officials who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the quality of early education and have made a difference in the lives of young children in the Triangle.

Nominate a public official or community volunteer who has provided outstanding service on behalf of the Triangle’s young children.

Dorothy B. Graham Early Childhood Leadership Award

The Dorothy B. Graham Early Childhood Leadership Award is given to an individual who has been a leader in improving early education and who has made a difference in the lives of young children in the Triangle. This award was created in 1998 and was named for Dorothy B. Graham in recognition of her more than 25 years of leadership and dedication to the early care and educational needs of young children in Durham County and statewide.

Nominate an individual who has provided exceptional leadership in improving child care in the Triangle.

Mary Y. Bridgers Early Childhood Educator Award

The Mary Y. Bridgers Early Childhood Educator Award is given to an early childhood teacher and three finalists in recognition of their professional commitment and outstanding care to children in the Triangle. Created in the 1980s, the Mary Y. Bridgers Early Childhood Teacher Award is named for Mary Y. Bridgers in recognition of her more than 30 years of service in Orange County as an early childhood teacher and advocate for children.

Nominate an early childhood teacher for their outstanding commitment and care to children in the Triangle.

Congratulations to the 2024 Triangle Child Care Award Winners and Special Recognitions!

The 2024 Mary Y. Bridgers Early Childhood Educator Award finalists and semi-finalists were…

Finalist: Pebbles Lucas from First Chronicles Daycare Center in Durham

Finalist: Brittaney Murray from Wake Forest iSTEM Magnet Elementary School

Semi-Finalist: Debbie Timmons from Randy’s Five Star Academy in Durham

Semi-Finalist: Rose Gemborys from The Little School of Hillsborough

The Dorothy B. Graham Award

Winner: Danielle Caldwell, Family Child Care Provider in Durham

Public Service Award

Winner: Representative Ashton Wheeler Clemmons (Guilford County)

Winner: Senator Jim Burgin (Harnett, Lee and Sampson Counties)

Early Childhood Champions

Winner: Dan Hudgins, Former Board Member

Winner: Marsha Basloe, Former President of Early Years