The Idaho Humanities Council (IHC) will present Dr. David Lachiondo with IHC’s highest honor—the Outstanding Achievement in the Humanities Award. The award will be presented at a reception and award ceremony at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, February 20 at the Basque Center, 601 W Grove St. in Boise.
Lachiondo is being honored with the award, which includes a $1,000 honorarium, for his devotion to educating Idahoans of all ages, his promotion of Basque studies, and for fostering greater public awareness, appreciation, and understanding of the humanities in Idaho.
“We are delighted to present David with the Idaho Humanities Council’s award for Outstanding Achievement in the Humanities,” said IHC Executive Director David Pettyjohn. “He is an Idaho treasure who has dedicated his life to promoting the Basque culture and has inspired countless people with his enthusiasm and passion for the humanities.”
Lachiondo is a promoter of all things Basque as a teacher, scholar, and cultural mentor. He is the former Director of the Basque Studies Program at Boise State University. Prior to his time at BSU, he completed a 41-year career in secondary education serving as a teacher, counselor, and administrator in both public and private schools. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Saint Mary’s College of California, a Master of Education in Guidance and Counseling from Idaho State University, and a PhD from the University of Idaho with a dissertation focused on education law.
Lachiondo is a scholar of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), who has taught classes to young and old through Boise State University’s Osher Institute. He is an amazing keyboard accordion player and enjoys sharing his talent with fellow musicians.
At the ceremony several individuals will help roast and toast Lachiondo followed by Lachiondo saying a few words about how the humanities have inspired his work.
Anyone interested in attending the dessert reception and award ceremony for David Lachiondo on Thursday, February 20 should RSVP to the Idaho Humanities Council by February 13, 2020 at (208) 345-5346, or email debra@idahohumanities.org. Doors at the Basque Center will open at 6:30 p.m. with the ceremony beginning at 7:15 p.m.
The Idaho Humanities Council is the statewide, nonprofit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities dedicated to promoting greater public understanding of literature, history, ethics, law, and other humanities disciplines. The Council has presented its award for “Outstanding Achievement in the Humanities” annually since 1986. Previous recipients of the award include independent historian Keith Petersen, Twin Falls anthropologist James Woods, former Idaho Governor Robert E. Smylie, College of Idaho Professor Louie Attebery, State Historian Merle Wells, Constitution scholar David Adler, Idaho historian Arthur Hart, Moscow writer Mary Clearman Blew, Idaho poet William Studebaker, Nez Perce elder Horace Axtell, ISU History Professor Ron Hatzenbuehler, Basque Museum and Cultural Center Director Patty Miller, Boise Independent School District Administrator and history teacher Russ Heller, LCSC anthropologist Alan Marshall, Idaho Public Television’s Peter Morrill, College of Idaho archivist and photographer Jan Boles, Idaho State Historical Society Publications Editor Judy Austin, ISU English Professor Susan Swetnam, Idaho Supreme Court Justice Jim Jones, ISHS Executive Director Janet Gallimore and others.