Cronin Awards 2025: North Carolina’s Beyond the Internship: Building Purpose, Passion, and Public Service and PAC-APP

As of January 1, 2026, access to all Procurement U courses is a benefit of NASPO and Procurement Professionals Alliance (PPA) membership.

To learn more about PPA membership, visit their website here.  

 Course Description:

Join us for an in depth look at the North Carolina Division of Purchase & Contract internship program emphasizing hands-on experiences, real responsibilities, and meaningful work. Learn how this immersive recruitment and talent development approach has inspired a new generation of procurement officials and public servants.


Presenters: Tirrell Honablew – Education Program Coordinator & David O’Neal – State Chief Procurement Officer

Learning Objectives:


Describe key components of North Carolina’s Purchase & Contract Aspiring Procurement Professionals internship program

Describe features and curriculum that make the program innovative and effective

Identify steps to adapt and adopt a similar approach to internship initiatives in other procurement offices