Ohio Humanities, state legislators honor people and organizations making positive impact across Ohio

COLUMBUS, OH—On Wednesday in a ceremony at the Ohio Statehouse, Ohio Humanities honored one organization and four individuals with its inaugural awards for excellence in the public humanities.

Toledo-based educational media organization Midstory received the inaugural David Descutner and DeLysa Burnier Award for Excellence in the Humanities. Midstory is a multimedia platform that tells powerful stories about the Midwest, striving to drive renewed interest and human capital into post-industrial cities. Award judges specifically recognized Midstory’s exhibit “Asian in Ohio,” an interactive web gallery documenting the stories of Asian American and Pacific Islanders who have made Ohio their home. The project—supported by a $19,800 Ignite Grant from Ohio Humanities—invites the audience into a dialogue around how each of us seeks to connect with and relate to one another.

“Midstory’s innovative approach to telling the stories of post-industrial cities like Cleveland and Toledo showcases how progressive our region can be and challenges people to see who we are in new ways,” said Ohio Humanities Executive Director Rebecca Brown Asmo. “Ohio is fortunate to have incredible organizations like this amplifying extraordinary American stories that define our history, culture, and people.”

Three individuals were honored with the David Descutner and DeLysa Burnier Award for Excellence in the Humanities for significant contributions to the public humanities in Ohio throughout their careers, including:

• Dayton artist and educator Willis “Bing” Davis, who is celebrated internationally for his mixed-media artwork.
• Late Columbus scholar, historian, and longtime Ohio Humanities Speakers’ Bureau member Cathy Nelson, who has traveled the state engaging and delighting people by sharing stories of Ohio historical heroes. Her family was honored to accept the award on her behalf.
• Columbus educator, historian and author Doreen Uhas Sauer, who has been a champion for Columbus landmarks.

Finally, Congressman Mike Carey was recognized as the 2025 Humanities Hero, an honor given to an elected or community leader for outstanding effort to promote the public humanities in Ohio, for his leadership as Co-Chair of the Congressional Humanities Caucus.

Two organizations were recognized as finalists for the Descutner-Burnier Award: Athens’ Southeast Ohio History Center and Springfield’s Gammon House.

Supported by a 2022 grant from Ohio Humanities, the Southeast Ohio History Center partnered with producer and public historian Brian Koscho to create immersive storytelling historic markers throughout Athens County. Using augmented reality and audio storytelling, “Invisible Ground” brings The Berry Hotel and seven other landmarks to life. After scanning a QR code, visitors can hold up their phone and see images of buildings as they used to be.

Gammon House, built in 1850, was a safe house on the Underground Railroad. In 2022, the volunteer-led organization located in a received pandemic recovery funding from Ohio Humanities that ensured its continued operation and preservation. Featuring exhibitions and artifacts about the Gammon family, slavery in America, and related history, the Gammon House also serves as a gathering place for Springfield’s Black community.

Donors David Descutner and DeLysa Burnier, Ohio Humanities Executive Director Rebecca Brown Asmo, and state legislators from Athens, Columbus, Dayton, Springfield, and Toledo came together to celebrate the awardees and finalists for their outstanding work in the state’s humanities sector and their positive impact on people and communities across Ohio.

The awards are made possible by a generous endowed gift to Ohio Humanities from Athens residents David Descutner and DeLysa Burnier, who have spent their careers at Ohio University. To learn more about this year’s awardees, visit ohiohumanities.org/awards.

Ohio Humanities is a statewide nonprofit that shares stories to spark conversations and inspire ideas by hosting programs and awarding grants that support storytellers statewide, from museums to journalists to documentary filmmakers.

In 2024, Ohio Humanities awarded $588,300 in grants and supported 121 organizations across Ohio through grants, events and speakers deployed.

For more information, visit ohiohumanities.org.

Contact: Kiley Kinnard, Communications Manager
kkinnard@ohiohumanities.org