BY: SARAH RAVITS

Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities honors Louisianians.

Honorees Ellis Marsalis, Darrell Bourque and Norman Francis

A reception and awards ceremony took place on March 29 at the Houmas House Plantation in Darrow, La., to honor Ellis Marsalis, who was named the 2008 Humanist of the Year by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. Other award recipients included Norman Francis, Ph.D., who won the Award for Lifetime Achievement; Darrell Bourque, who was recognized as the Poet Laureate of Louisiana; Delma McLeod-Porter, Ph.D., J. Paul Leslie Jr. Ph.D., and Jack Heflin, Ph.D., won Individual Achievements in the Humanities. Additionally, The Community Foundation of Shreveport-Bossier; John. R. May, Ph.D,; Jennifer John Block; Bliss Broyard; Catherine Green and Emmitt Glynn III were also presented with awards.

The LEH hosts this event annually, in order to honor Louisianians who have made outstanding contributions to the study and understanding of the humanities.


Honorees Delma McLeod Porter and Paul Leslie

Jim Segreto and Lauren Ledet

Brian Boyles and David Johnson

Dr. Michael Sartisky and Karen and Tom Clark