Wilmington city manager Sterling Cheatham has received an award from the public administration leadership organization of the southeastern United States.

The Southeastern Conference for Public Administration (SECoPA) gave Cheatham its Distinguished Practitioner Award for 2014, according to a recent news release from the city. The organization’s award, presented annually, recognizes one public servant in the Southeast for outstanding achievement. Award recipients must have a significant and established record in public service in a local, state, federal or international government or nonprofit, the release stated.

In announcing Cheatham’s selection, SECoPA president Jo Ann Ewalt told the city manager, “Your accomplishments in local government are truly inspiring. There were a number of excellent nominations for this award, and your winning nomination highlights our intent to publicize and reward the highest level of excellence in public service.”