2026 Governor's Humanities Awards Recipients named

Six awardees recognized for contributions to humanities, history, cultural practices, teaching, and community knowledge

SAIPAN, CNMI - The Northern Marianas Humanities Council (NMHC) is pleased to announce the recipients of the

2026 Governor's Humanities Awards. This year's honorees are recognized for preserving local history and cultural practices, advancing humanities scholarship, teaching, and sharing knowledge with their communities.

The honorees will be recognized by the Governor at an invitation-only awards banquet on October 27, 2026.

• Leila Staffler - Preservation of CNMI History. Leila produced the three-part Exploring Latte in the Marianas documentary series.

• Andrew Gumataotao - Research and Publication in the Humanities. Andrew contributed to two publications:
  "Towards an ethics of care for cultural belongings and ancestral remains from the Marianas Islands in European museums" and "Across oceans and continents: Sonic imaginations, Lalai and Basque intersections in Guahan, Mariana Islands."

• Kit Porter Van Meter - Lifetime Achievement in the Humanities. After serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in the 1960s and 1970s, Kit went on to serve as associate director of the Department of Education and founding president of Northern Marianas Community College. Her contributions also include preserving hundreds of Micronesian government documents, educational materials, and other historical records.

• Kyle Aguon-Manalo - Preservation of Traditional Cultural Practices. Kyle preserves traditional cultural practices through his work as a techa.

• Adam Walsh - Outstanding Humanities Teacher in a Classroom Setting. Adam has taught in Northern Marianas College's Languages and Humanities Department for nearly a decade, including its Literature of the Pacific course. He also serves as editor-in-chief of NMC's Proa Publications.

• Andrea Carr - Outstanding Humanities Teacher in a Non-Classroom Setting. As program manager at 500
  Sails and an instructor in the Lalåyak program, Andrea shares her seamanship knowledge with students. She teaches canoe maneuvering and righting, points of sail, and other skills.

The Governor's Humanities Awards celebrate individuals whose work strengthens understanding of the people, history, culture, and traditions of the Northern Mariana Islands.