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2026 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 24
BY SENATOR STINE
A RESOLUTION
To commend the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and to recognize and celebrate
the 2026 Bright Lights Awards Honorees for their outstanding contribution to the
cultural and educational fabric of Louisiana.
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH) has served the
people of Louisiana for fifty-five years by promoting education, preserving history, and
enriching public life through the humanities; and
WHEREAS, LEH's mission to foster learning, literacy, and a deeper understanding
of Louisiana's diverse people and stories has empowered generations of Louisiana families,
educators, and lifelong learners; and
WHEREAS, each year, LEH hosts the Bright Lights Awards Dinner to honor
individuals and organizations whose work exemplifies the values of the humanities and
whose contributions meaningfully preserve and celebrate Louisiana's cultural identity; and
WHEREAS, the 2026 Bright Lights honorees have made significant and lasting
impacts on Louisiana's cultural, educational, and historical landscape through their
exceptional work and dedication to the humanities; and
WHEREAS, the 2026 honorees include:
• Michael Doucet, recipient of the Humanist of the Year award, in recognition
of his extraordinary contributions to Cajun music, language, and culture as the founder of
the internationally acclaimed band BeauSoleil;
• Pam Atchison, named Champion of Culture, for her remarkable tenure as
executive director of the Shreveport Regional Arts Council for thirty-eight years;
• The RosaMary Foundation and the Keller Family Foundation, recipients of
the Chair's Award for Institutional Support, for each contributing more than twenty-five
years of support for the humanities in Louisiana;
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SR NO. 24 ENROLLED
• Kevin Rabalais, named Documentary Photographer of the Year, for his
extensive body of work documenting the everyday lives, traditions, and landscapes of
Louisiana;
• Don Marshall, recipient of the Lifetime Contributions to the Humanities
award, for his career and leadership supporting and uplifting the arts community in New
Orleans;
• Debra Jo Hailey, recipient of the Light Up for Literacy award, for her
lifelong dedication to improving literacy across Louisiana through family literacy festivals
and educational outreach;
•Thomas Patterson, recipient of Humanities Book of the Year for American
Populist: Huey Long of Louisiana, for his vital contributions to historical scholarship on
Louisiana's storied governor;
•Sascha Just, honored for Humanities Documentary Film of the Year for What
We Can Know About Edmond and Basile, a film exploring the lives and musical legacies of
19th-century Creole composers;
•The Historic New Orleans Collection, honored for Museum Exhibition of
the Year for Captive State, Louisiana and the Making of Mass Incarceration, an exhibition
that brought to life the historical connections between slavery and mass incarceration; and
WHEREAS, these honorees contribute to the illumination of Louisiana's rich
heritage, serve as inspiration to future generations, and embody the spirit of excellence in
service to the people and the stories of this great state.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities for its invaluable
contributions to education, culture, and public life and congratulates the 2026 Bright Lights
Awards Honorees for their inspiring work, affirming the continued importance of
humanities-based learning and cultural preservation in shaping Louisiana's future.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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