President Barack Obama, on behalf of the National Endowment for the Humanities, will present the 2012 National Humanities Medals to twelve Americans for their “outstanding achievements” in the humanities.

Gordon S. Wood, Alva O. Way University Professor at Brown University, received the 2011 National Humanities Medal. Credit: Ruth David/National Endowment for the Humanities

Among the list are historians Edward L. Ayers, a current AHA member, and Natalie Zemon Davis, past AHA president. Ayers will be honored for his “commitment to making our history as widely available and accessible as possible. Dr. Ayers’ innovations in digital humanities extend higher learning beyond campus boundaries and allow broad audiences to discover the past in new ways.” Davis will be recognized for her “insights into the study of history and her exacting eloquence in bringing the past into focus. With vivid description and exhaustive research, her works allow us to experience life through our ancestors’ eyes and to truly engage with our history.”
Readers will have a chance to watch a live webcast of the July 10 National Arts and Humanities Medal ceremony, at White House Live, starting at 2pm EST.

For the full list of honored medalists, please see the official press release.

This post first appeared on AHA Today.