The White House announced this year's recipients of the National Humanities Medal. William Adams, chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, said, "Our understanding of ourselves, our history and our culture have been deepened and transformed by these extraordinary humanities medalists. I am proud to join President Obama in celebrating the achievements of these distinguished individuals." On September 22, President Obama will present the award to these honorees:
Rudolfo Anaya, author, for his pioneering stories of the American southwest.
Ron Chernow, author, for bringing our Nation's story to life.
Louise Glück, poet, for giving lyrical expression to our inner conflicts.
James McBride, author, for humanizing the complexities of discussing race in America.
Louis Menand, author, for prose and essays that invite us to think in new ways about the forces shaping our society.
Elaine Pagels, historian & author, for her exploration of faith and its traditions.
Abraham Verghese, physician, professor & author, for reminding us that the patient is the center of the medical enterprise.
Isabel Wilkerson, journalist & author, for championing the stories of an unsung history.
Terry Gross, radio host & producer, for her artful probing of the human experience.
Wynton Marsalis, composer & musician, for celebrating the traditions of jazz music from New Orleans to Lincoln Center and beyond.
José Andrés, chef & entrepreneur, for cultivating our palates and shaping our culture.
Prison University Project, higher education program, for transforming the lives of incarcerated people through higher education.