WASHINGTON (March 2, 2011)—Today, at a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Kentuckian Wendell Berry was awarded the 2010 National Humanities Medal.  President Obama delivered remarks and presented the awards this afternoon. First Lady Michelle Obama was also in attendance.

“Wendell Berry is an institution in Kentucky,” Chandler said.  “In addition to writing over 40 books, he is a poet, farmer, and an activist.  He is truly a man of great conviction and integrity. We are even more proud of Mr. Berry and his considerable achievements today.”

Other well known individuals received humanities or arts medals today, including James Taylor and Meryl Streep.

Today’s medal winners:

2010 National Humanities Medal
•    Wendell E. Berry
•    Daniel Aaron
•    Bernard Bailyn
•    Jacques Barzun
•    Roberto González Echevarría
•    Stanley Nider Katz
•    Joyce Carol Oates
•    Arnold Rampersad
•    Philip Roth
•    Gordon Wood

2010 National Medal of Arts
•    Meryl Streep
•    James Taylor
•    Robert Brustein
•    Van Cliburn
•    Mark di Suvero
•    Donald Hall
•    Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival
•    Quincy Jones
•    Harper Lee
•    Sonny Rollins
 

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