


South Carolina Humanities annually presents the Governor’s Awards in the Humanities Luncheon & Award Ceremony to recognize outstanding achievement and contributions to the humanities in South Carolina.

Past Recipients
Over one hundred individuals and organizations have received awards from 1991 to 2020.
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