Since 1984, Humanities Montana has honored excellence in the humanities in Montana. In 1995, Governor Marc Racicot and Humanities Montana (then the Montana Committee for the Humanities) conferred the first Montana Governor's Humanities Awards at a ceremony in Missoula. Governor's Humanities Awards ceremonies occurred in 1996, in Great Falls, in 1998, in Billings, in 2001 and 2003 with Governor Judy Martz, and in 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011 with Governor Schweitzer and Lieutenant Governor John Bohlinger, in the state capitol in Helena.

Congratulations to the 2011 Governor's Humanities Award recipients.

	Ellen Baumler (Helena) is the interpretive historian at the Montana Historical Society. Her responsibilities have included composing interpretive signs for historical sites in Montana, developing and writing walking tours of historic districts, successfully writing National Register nominations, writing and reviewing roadside historical markers for the Montana Department of Transportation, and sharing Montana’s heritage with students of all ages across the state. She is an award-winning author of diverse articles and books such as Montana Chillers: 13 True Tales of Ghosts and Hauntings for young readers, Dark Spaces—Montana's Historic Penitentiary at Deer Lodge, and most recently Montana Moments: History on the Go. Read Ellen Baumler's acceptance speech
	Julie Cajune (Arlee) is executive director of the Center for American Indian Policy and Applied Research at Salish Kootenai College. She received a $1.4 million grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation to produce authentic tribal histories in a variety of media. She has been active with Indian Education for All, the Tribal Histories project, and language preservation on the Flathead Indian Reservation. She also served on the Board of Directors of Humanities Montana. Read Julie Cajune's acceptance speech
	Richard Drake (Missoula) is professor and former chair of history at the University of Montana. He is a cultural and intellectual historian of Europe with a particular interest in Italy. He has published extensively on the subject of Italian terrorism. For the past twenty-four years, he has been the coordinator of the President's Lecture Series, bringing to campus ten speakers annually in the humanities, arts, and sciences. He is a past winner of the most inspirational teacher of the year award and the Burlington Northern teaching award. Read Richard Drake's acceptance speech
	Lowell Jaeger (Kalispell) has taught creative writing at Flathead Valley Community College for over 25 years. He has published several volumes of his own poetry and has edited important collections of regional poetry, most recently, New Poets of the American West: An Anthology of Poets from Eleven Western States. He has been a leader of Meaning of Service, a reading and discussion program for AmeriCorps and VISTA members. He has served on Humanities Montana's Speakers Bureau, and during the mid-90s he led a radio discussion program focused on Montana writers, "Big Sky Radio," which was later syndicated by National Public Radio as "StoryLines America." Read Lowell Jaeger's acceptance speech
	Ron Perrin (Missoula) has inspired many students with his discussion of political theory at The University of Montana. He became a national authority on public humanities work through his leadership of Humanities Montana and participation on the Board of the Federation of State Humanities Councils. He has served on the board of the Missoula Cultural Council and has traveled the state of Montana presenting public lectures on the humanities. Read Ron Perrin's acceptance speech
	A pioneer of Montana broadcasting, Joseph S. Sample (Billings) has been an avid financial supporter of public radio and television in Montana. His own jazz program on Yellowstone Public Radio, "Spreadin' Rhythm Around," promotes a major American art form with wit and historical context. As a board member for the Burton K. Wheeler Center in Bozeman, he has advocated public discussion of pressing social and cultural issues in Montana. He has also supported funding for public humanities programs at universities in Billings, Bozeman, and Missoula. Read Joseph S. Sample's acceptance speech

Photo: At the 2011 Governor's Humanities Awards, State Capitol Rotunda. Back row, from left: Lowell Jaeger, Secretary of State Linda McCulloch, Richard Drake. Front row, from left: Joseph S. Sample, Julie Cajune, Ellen Baumler, Ron Perrin