President Obama Awards 2010 National Humanities Medals

In a White House ceremony earlier this week, President Obama honored 19 scholars, writers, artists and entertainers with the National Humanities Medal and the National Medal for the Arts.

As the Washington Post reported: "The medals are the highest government honors given to scholars, writers, artists and entertainers. The National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities suggest names to the White House, which makes the final selection."

 "The National Humanities Medals are given to individuals who have contributed to greater understanding of human nature and of the human condition," said NEH Chairman Jim Leach.

 

National Humanities Medal recipients included authors Joyce Carol Oates and Philip Roth. National Medal of Arts awardees included jazz musician Quincy Jones.