Past Recipients

1991

• Robert Simpson
• SC ETV

1992

• Robert S. McCoy
• McKissick Museum

1993

• Charles Joyner
• Lawrence Rowland
• WRJA – Sumter

1994

• Gibbes Museum of Art
• Veronica Davis Gerald
• Harriet Keyserling

1995

• Jerold J. Savory

1996

• Coker College
• Pat Conroy

1997

• South Carolina State Museum
• James Dickey
• Larry Jackson
• A.V. Huff Jr. 

1998

• Carol Bleser
• John Jakes
• Richland County Public Library
• Elaine T. Freeman
• Virginia Geraty

1999

• Matthew Bruccoli
• Greater Columbia Literacy Council
• Earl Wilcox

2000

• Walter Edgar
• Dori Sanders
• William Starr

2001

• Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture 
• Josephine Humphreys
• Congressman John Spratt, Jr.

2003

• Drs. Sara Sanders & Stephen Nagle
• York County Culture and Heritage Commission

2004

• Luther (Fred) Carter
• Ann Close
• William Price Fox
• Eugene (Nick) Ziegler

2005

• J. Douglas Donehue
• Virginia Friedman
• Joseph P. Riley, Jr.

2006

• Marvin Chernoff
• Furman University
• Hub City Writers Project
• S.C. (Cal) McMeekin, Jr.

2007 – Learn more about the 2007 recipients

• Jeffrey R. Willis
• Senator Ernest F. Hollings

2008 – Learn more about the 2008 recipients

• Rachel Hodges
• Wayne Q. Justesen, Jr.
• William C. Moran

2009 – Learn more about the 2009 recipients

• Ruby “Bela” Padgette Herlong
• Dr. David S. Shields
• Dr. Joseph Taylor Stukes
• Claflin University, School of Humanities and Social Sciences

2010 – Learn more about the 2010 recipients

• Benjamin “Bernie” Dunlap – Read Dr. Dunlap’s acceptance speech | Word document
• Theodore “Ted” Rosengarten 
• Lynn Robertson

2011 – Learn more about the 2011 recipients

• Jack Bass
• Jerome “Jerry” Reel
• I.P. Stanback Museum and Planetarium, South Carolina State University

2012 – Learn more about the 2012 honorees

• Dr. Karen Chandler 
• Dr. Anthony J. DiGiorgio 
• University of South Carolina Press

2013 – Learn more about the 2013 honorees

• Dr. Mary Ann Kohli
• Ron Rash
• Dr. Stephen R. Wise

2014 – Learn more about the 2014 honorees

• Dr. William E. Dufford
• Dr. Tom Mack
• Dr. Alexandra Rowe

2015 – Learn more about the 2015 honorees

• Dr. Charles Israel
• Dr. Valinda Littlefield
• Dr. Rudy Mancke

2016 – Learn more about the 2016 honorees

• Charles T. “Bud” Ferillo, Jr.
• Betsy Newman – Read Betsy Newman’s acceptance speech | pdf document
• John Stringer Rainey

2017 – Learn more about the 2017 honorees

• Karen Alexander, The Auntie Karen Foundation
• Orville Vernon Burton
• Dixie Goswami
• Elizabeth “Betty Jo” Rhea

2018 – Learn more about the 2018 honorees

• Anne Walker Cleveland, Governor’s Award in the Humanities
• Bobby Donaldson, Governor’s Award in the Humanities
• Sara June Goldstein, Governor’s Award in the Humanities
• Cecil Williams, Governor’s Award in the Humanities
• Adrienne Burris, Fresh Voice in the Humanities Award
• Anna Catherine “AC” Parham, Fresh Voice in the Humanities Award

2019 – Listen to a short interview about the 2019 ceremony on SC Public Radio.

• Greenville Chautauqua, Governor’s Award in the Humanities
• Ron Daise, Governor’s Award in the Humanities
• Steven Naifeh, Governor’s Award in the Humanities
• Marcus Amaker, Fresh Voice in the Humanities Award
• Marlanda Dekine, Fresh Voice in the Humanities Award
• Scott Gwara, Fresh Voice in the Humanities Award

2020 – Watch the 2020 ceremony on YouTube

• Billy Keyserling, Governor’s Award in the Humanities
• Robin Waites, Governor’s Award in the Humanities
• Barbara Williams Jenkins, Governor’s Award in the Humanities
• Jon Tuttle, Governor’s Award in the Humanities
• Caroline DeLongchamps, Fresh Voice in the Humanities Award

2021 – Watch the 2021 ceremony on YouTube or View the Event Program

• Michael Allen, Governor’s Award in the Humanities
• Jannie Harriot, Governor’s Award in the Humanities
• Simon Lewis, Governor’s Award in the Humanities
• The Rice Museum, Governor’s Award in the Humanities
• Lydia Brandt, Fresh Voice in the Humanities Award
• Tamara Herring,  Fresh Voice in the Humanities Award
• The Rev. Christopher B. Thomas, Fresh Voice in the Humanities Award
• Kasie Whitener, Fresh Voice in the Humanities Award