Online nomination form with two letters of support submitted online. The form includes the nominee’s name, contact info, bio; brief explanation for the nomination; and the nominator’s contact info, signature, and date.
Celebrating Arizonans who are hands-on with humanities
Since the inaugural awards in 1990, Arizona Humanities has recognized individuals who have advanced the humanities in Arizona through their scholarship, leadership, support, and advocacy. We encourage you to nominate an individual or organization who is advancing the humanities in your community! Take a look at who we’ve awarded in the past.
Award recipients participate in a video interview, celebrate with friends and family in an awards reception in the fall, and receive a $2,000 cash award to further their work in the humanities field.
Start thinking of who you’d like to nominate for 2025!
Award recipients participate in a video interview, celebrate with friends and family in an awards reception in the fall, and receive a $2,000 cash award to further their work in the humanities field.
Start thinking of who you’d like to nominate for 2025!
Nomination Checklist
Guidelines at-a-glance
- Anyone can submit a nomination.
- Past nominators are encouraged to re-submit nominee applications.
- Self-nominators must provide two (2) support letters from outside sources.
- The nominator must submit two letters of support (unless submitting for K-12 Humanities Educator); only two letters will be accepted.
- Only complete applications will be accepted. Please do not submit supplementary materials.
- Please read the full nomination guidelines before submitting a nomination.
Award Categories
Friend of the Humanities
This award recognizes a public individual who makes a lasting contribution to the cultural life of Arizona communities through active support of, and involvement in, promoting the humanities.
See Criteria
Letters of support should address how the nominee meets the following criteria:
- Actively promotes understanding and appreciation of the humanities in the community through their work, volunteerism or leadership at cultural, civic, educational or other organizations.
- Exemplary outreach and/or advocacy supporting the humanities and access to the humanities.
- Significant contribution to the community by promoting civil discourse and/or community engagement.
Humanities Rising Star
This award recognizes a young professional, student, or volunteer who demonstrates outstanding and creative approaches to engaging the public with the humanities, and whose humanities scholarship and public service has enhanced public understanding of the humanities.
See Criteria
Letters of support should address how the nominee meets the following criteria:
- Nominees must be 18-35 years of age.
- Actively promotes awareness and understanding of the humanities in the community through scholarship, creativity, leadership or volunteerism, and actively advocates for others to support the humanities.
- Evidence of impact on diverse issues/communities.
- Actively and consistently promotes opportunities for people to learn, experience, and explore diverse issues through public programs and creative activities that foster civil discourse and community engagement.
K-12 Humanities Educator
This award recognizes an outstanding K-12 educator who engages students with the humanities through teaching in the classroom or leading humanities-based school programs.
See Criteria
Letter(s) of support should address how the nominee meets the following criteria:
- Nominees must be a teacher, school librarian, or staff/administrator at a K-12 school.
- Fosters an understanding of the humanities through innovative classroom teaching and/or implementing creative, humanities-based school programs.
- Encourages active student engagement.
- Evidence of impact on students and school community.
Humanities Public Scholar
This award recognizes a distinguished humanities scholar who enhances public understanding of the humanities, transforms lives and strengthens communities through civil discourse and community engagement.
See Criteria
Letters of support should address how the nominee meets the following criteria:
- Sustained research (3-5 years), publications, creative activity, and humanities service in Arizona.
- Consistently serves as a humanities scholar, or public advocate for humanities.
- Actively and consistently engages the Arizona public in one or more humanities disciplines.
- Actively and consistently promotes opportunities for people to learn, experience, and explore diverse issues through public programs that foster civil discourse and community engagement.
Past Award Winners
Distinguished Organizations
2007 – Pima County Library
2006 – Phoenix Burton Barr Central Library
2005 – Museum Association of Arizona
2004 – Sharlot Hall Museum, Prescott
2003 – Hassayampa Institute for Creative Writing at Yavapai College
2002 – Center for Desert Archaeology, Tucson
2001 – Historic Sahuaro Ranch Foundation, Glendale
2000 – Parker Public Library
1999 – Arizona Historical Society, Southern Arizona Division
1998 – Scottsdale Cultural Council
Founder’s Community Partner Award Recipients
2024 – Jacelle Ramon-Sauberan, Ph.D.
2023 – Rising Youth Theatre
2022 – Arizona Jewish Historical Society
2021 – Thomas J. Davis, Ph.D., J.D.
2020 – Karen O’Keefe
2019 – Morning Star Leaders, Inc. Megan LaRose, Debbie Nez-Manuel, Royce Manuel
2018 – Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records
Friend of the Humanities – Juliana Yoder Award Recipients
2024 – Tyler Meier
2023 – Sandy Chan
2022 – Jean Baxter
2021 – Christine Marin, Ph.D.
2020 – Aguila Youth Leadership Institute
2020 – J.J. Lamb
2019 – Kevin Schindler
2018 – Almira Poudrier, Ph.D.
2017 – Barbara Hatch
2015 – Michael Vincent, Ph.D.
Humanities Public Scholar – Dan Shilling Award Recipients
2024 – Ayanna Thompson, Ph.D.
2023 – Anita Huizar-Hernández, Ph.D.
2022 – Ricardo Guthrie, Ph.D.
2021 – Michael Brescia, Ph.D.
2020 – Paul Hirt, Ph.D.
2019 – Natalie Diaz
2019 – Joan McGregor, Ph.D.
2018 – Liz Warren
2017 – James Blasingame, Ph.D.
2015 – Paul Espinosa, Ph.D.
Humanities Rising Star Award Recipients
2024 – Brandon Johnson
2023 – Stephanie Joyner
2022 – Amber McCrary
2021 – Paul Alan Taliercio
2020 – Rosaura Magaña
2019 – Rachel Egboro
2018 – Dagoberto Bailon
2017 – Nancy Liliana Godoy
2015 – Rivka Rocchio
2014 – Tyler Wayne Vertrees
K-12 Humanities Educator Award Recipients
2024 – Jeff Kunes
2023 – Ginette Rossi
Outstanding Speaker Award Recipients
2022 – Rosemarie Dombrowski, Ph.D.
2021 – Akua Duku Anokye, Ph.D.
2021 – Zarco Guerrero
Outstanding Supporter Award Recipients
2024 – Allen Dart
2023 – Eshé N. Pickett
2022 – Janice Klein
2021 – James and Judith Walsh
2020 – Judith Hardes
2019 – Rodo Sofranac
2018 – The Shackelford Family