Programs

Outstanding Achievement in the Humanities Award

Since 1986 the Board of the Idaho Humanities Council annually gives an award to an individual and/or organization for Outstanding Achievement in the Humanities. The award is given annually to either a person or an organization, such as a scholar for writing a significant book, a project director for implementing an excellent public humanities program, a university or college for significantly improving its humanities programs, a school district or individual school for developing a model curriculum, or any number of other people or institutions for high achievement that fosters greater understanding or appreciation of the humanities. 

Outstanding Achievement in The Humanities recipient Kurt Ikeda pictured at the Minidoka National Historic Site
2021 Outstanding Achievement in the Humanities recipient Kurt Ikeda

Previous Recipients

2022

Cindy Wilson

iCivics Teachers Council
Teacher/Mentor
2022

Kathy Aiken

University of Idaho
Professor of History Emerita
2021

Kurt Ikeda

Minidoka National Historic Site
Director of Interpretation and Education
2020

Hope Benedict

Lemhi County Historical Society
President
2020

Mary Reed

Latah County Historical Society
Retired, Executive Director
2019

David Lachiondo

Retired, Associate Director of Basque Studies
Boise State University
2018

Janet Gallimore

Idaho State Historical Society
Executive Director
2017

Jim Jones

Former Idaho Supreme Court Justice
2016

Susan Swetnam

Idaho State University
Emerita English Professor
2015

Jan Boles

College of Idaho
Archivist, Photographer
2014

Judith Austin

Historian, Editor & Author
2013

Peter Morrill

Idaho Public Television
General Manager
2012

Alan Marshall

Lewis-Clark State College
Anthropology Professor
2011

Virginia Tinsley Johnson

North Idaho College
Former Emeritus English Professor & Humanities Administrator
2011

Russ Heller

Boise Independent Schools
Social Studies Supervisor
2010

David Adler

U.S. Constitution Scholar
2009

Patty Miller

Basque Museum & Cultural Center
Director
2008

Ronald Hatzenbuehler

Idaho State University
History Professor
2007

M.K. “Keith” Browning

Lewis-Clark State College
Emeritus Professor of English, founder of Confluence Press
2006

Tony Stewart

North Idaho College
Professor of Political Science
2005

William Studebaker

College of Southern Idaho
English Professor, Poet
2004

Robert Sims

Boise State University
Emeritus Professor of History
2003

Brian Attebery

Idaho State University
Professor of English, Science Fiction Scholar
2002

Horace Axtell

Nez Perce Tribal Elder
2001

Mary Clearman Blew

University of Idaho
Professor of English, Writer
2000

Louise Shadduck

Historian, Author
1999

Arthur Hart

Historian, Author
1998

Gov. Robert E. Smylie

Former Governor, Author
1997

James C. Woods

College of Southern Idaho
Archaeologist, Director of CSI’s Herrett Center
1996

Dennis Colson

University of Idaho
Professor of Law
1995

Jerry Glenn

Ricks College
Idaho historian, Professor of Religion & Library Science
1994

Hugh Nichols

Lewis-Clark State College
Professor of English
1993

Peggy McClendon

Idaho State Library
Librarian, “Let’s Talk About It” Coordinator
1992

Marvin Henberg

University of Idaho
Professor of Philosophy
1991

Merle Wells

Idaho State Historian Emeritus
1990

Baxter Mow

Idaho Rhoades Scholar
1989

Louie Attebery

College of Idaho
Professor of English & Folklore
1988

Carlos Schwantes

University of Idaho
Professor of History and Author
1987

Tom Rybus

Idaho Humanities Council
Former Assistant Director
1986

Keith Petersen

Independent Historian and Author