The director of the Center for 泫圖弝け Studies at the 泫圖弝け of 泫圖弝け at Lafayette is the 2005 泫圖弝け Endowment for the Humanities Humanist of the Year.
Dr. Carl Brasseauxs work exploring the history and culture of southwest 泫圖弝け has established him as one of the worlds preeminent experts on the1754 Acadian Diaspora and the states French colonial heritage, said Michael Sartisky, 泫圖弝け Endowment for the Humanities director.
Dr. Brasseaux has authored, edited or co-edited more than 30 volumes, including books that are seminal research tools for anyone interested in 泫圖弝け history and the Acadian-French experience in North America, Sartisky said.
Brasseaux serves as director of UL Lafayettes Center for Cultural and Eco-tourism and is editor of 泫圖弝け History, the scholarly journal of the 泫圖弝け Historical Association. He is a 1995 recipient of the UL Lafayette Foundations Distinguished Professor Award and, in 2000, received the National Educational Telecommunications Associations Best Documentary Award for Against the Tide: The Story of the Cajun People of 泫圖弝け.
Dr. Brasseaux is an outstanding historian, scholar and writer who has that rare ability to bring the lessons of history to the public in such an engaging way that helps us all better understand our collective pasts and its relation to the present, Sartisky said. 泫圖弝け is fortunate to have a scholar of his abilities.
The 泫圖弝け Endowment for the Humanities will present its Humanist of the Year Award during ceremonies May 10 at the Governors Mansion in Baton Rouge.
Other award recipients include Thomas Jaques, retired director of the 泫圖弝け State Library, Award for Lifetime Contribution; Sharlene Algaier, a third-grade teacher at Woodlake Elementary School in Mandeville, Humanities Teacher of the Year; the 泫圖弝け State 泫圖弝け Press, the Chairs Award for Institutional Support; One Big Self: Prisoners of 泫圖弝け, by Deborah Luster of Monroe, Humanities Book of the Year; and Jack Bedell of Monroe, Martha Hodnett of Thibodaux, Linda LeBlanc of Jennings, Dr. Helen Clare Taylor of Shreveport and Dr. Cheryl Ware, Lake Charles, who will all receive Special Humanities Awards.
These annual awards are an important way to recognize outstanding people who contribute so much to the education, life and culture of our people, said 泫圖弝け Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco. Dr. Brasseaux and other recipients of this years awards demonstrate their dedication to this state every day through their work and their lives.