Missouri Humanities Council Announces Governor's Humanities Award Winners

Each year the Governor of Missouri and the Missouri Humanities Council celebrate the accomplishments of people who have made exceptional contributions to our understanding of Missouri, its people, and its stories. These awards are based on nominations from the public for outstanding contributions to the humanities in Missouri. The awards ceremony will be held on October 22, 2008 at the Missouri Governor’s Mansion in Jefferson City.

The Book Award recognizes individuals or groups whose book or publication has increased our understanding and appreciation of Missouri's history and culture. The 2008 Governor’s Humanities Award winners in this category include:

Mitch Jayne of Eminence for Fiddler’s Ghost, the master storyteller’s tale of suspense featuring the characters, music, and customs of Ozark Mountain culture.

Robert Frizzell from Maryville for Independent Immigrants – a Settlement of Hanoverian Germans in Western Missouri, the sometimes turbulent history of immigrant Germans in Lafayette County from 1838 to 1890.

Platte County Historical and Genealogical Society for The History of Platte County, Missouri – A Proud Legacy, the story of the people and events in the county from its initial exploration through today.

The Community Heritage Award recognizes individuals or groups who have made special contributions to a community's understanding of its heritage. The 2008 Governor’s Humanities Award Winners in this category include:

KETC-TV, St. Louis’s PBS station for the film Your Stories, featuring poignant personal stories of St. Louisans during the World War II years – to be aired as an adjunct to Ken Burns’ WWII documentary.

Thomas W. Carneal of Maryville, distinguished historian, preservationist and scholar for his career achievements in promoting the cultural and architectural heritage of Northwest Missouri.

University of Missouri Press for fifty years of contributions to scholarly and inspired publishing, and the cultivation of important regional resources about and for Missouri and the Midwest.

Finally, the Excellence in Humanities Education Award recognizes one or more teachers of English, history, languages, or social studies, grades K-12, in Missouri's public or private schools. The 2008 Governor’s Humanities Award Winners in this category include:

Amy McBride Barker, a stand-out English literature and composition teacher at Kirkwood High School, is an inspiration to her students with her passion, energy and dedication to the humanities. 

Dr. Maridella Carter of the Blue Springs South High School English department inspires love for the arts in her students, colleagues and throughout the state with her exceptional knowledge and devotion to the humanities.

To learn more about these exceptional Missourians and works of humanities, or to share your thoughts with others, go the Missouri Humanities web site, newsletter or humanities blog:
http://www.mohumanities.org/governors_awards.htm
http://www.MissouriPassages.com
http://mohumanities.blogspot.com

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Missouri Humanities Council
543 Hanley Industrial Ct., Ste. 201
St. Louis, MO 63144-1905
(314) 781-9660 (800) 357-0909