Governor’s Humanities Awards
The Governor’s Humanities Awards is an annual program sponsored by the Northern Marianas Humanities Council in partnership with the Office of the Governor that recognizes outstanding contributions to the humanities by individuals and organizations in our community.
Award Categories
- Research and Publication in the Humanities: Nominees under this category are recognized for original scholarly research in one or more of the humanities fields that resulted in a manuscript or in the publication of a book or article. Research and publication topics must relate directly to the Northern Mariana Islands or to the greater Pacific region.
- Outstanding Humanities Teacher: Nominees under this category are recognized for significant contributions to humanities instruction. Nominees may be classroom teachers (K-college) or individuals involved in humanities instruction outside of the formal classroom setting.
- Preservation of Traditional Cultural Practices: Nominees under this category are recognized for a significant contribution to preserving traditional cultural practices relating to such topics as language, subsistence, medicine, law, kinship, religion, construction and transportation, among other.
- Preservation of CNMI History: Nominees under this category are recognized for significant contributions to preserving history relating to the Northern Mariana Islands. Such contributions may take the form of film and video projects, recording oral histories, and other projects that record and examine important aspects of local history.
- Lifetime Achievement in the Humanities: This is the Council’s most prestigious award. Nominees in this category are recognized for significant contributions in one or more fields of humanities over the course of multiple decades typically three or more. This award may be presented posthumously.
Nominate someone for an award in 2025 by completing the Nomination Form by September 22, 2025.
Click here to view a complete list of all past awardees.
2024 Governor’s Humanities Awards Photo Album
Program Booklets
2024 Program Booklet | Awardees: Theresa (Isa) Arriola, Elsie S.N. Johnson, Jonas M. Barcinas, John S. Castro, Jr., Dina Kaliga, and Don Farrell
2023 Program Booklet | Awardees: Donald B. Mendiola, Milton F. Coleman, jr., Deborah A. Fleming, Ajani S. Burrell, Carmen S. Taimañao, and William J. Fife, III
2022 Program Booklet | Awardees: Frances M. Sablan, Mario Benito, Sofina Q. Tomokane, Beylul Solomon, April Q. Repeki, and Gloria S. Rasiang
2021 Program Booklet | Awardees: Antonio U. Piailug, Syvia C. Frain, Walt F.J. Goodridge, Catherine R. Perry, and Denton-Joe O. Pangelinan
