Special Achievement Award – Mississippi Delta Tennessee Williams Festival MIAL Board of Governors member Marion Barnwell nominated the Mississippi Delta Tennessee Williams Festival for this award. Barnwell says of the festival, “The Porch Plays, the Student Drama Competitions, lovely Delta Lawn Parties at the Cutrer Mansion, with impressive musical entertainment by students from Coahoma Community College, and the recently opened Tennessee Williams Rectory Museum at St. George's Episcopal Church not only keep alive the work of a truly remarkable Mississippi playwright but also introduce students to Williams’ work and attract fans from around the world. For these reasons I feel this event deserves a Special Achievement Award.” Recipients' Remarks: We are so grateful and honored to receive the 2020 Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters “Special Achievement Award” for the Mississippi Delta Tennessee Williams Festival (MDTWF). What an honor to receive this acknowledgement from such a prestigious organization within our state. The MDTWF has been a labor of love and community for over 27 years. As we look back, it seems that hundreds of people near and far have touched this festival with their creative genius including artists, writers, scholars and musicians. But today, we would like to recognize and thank several key people and organizations for all of their love, support and vision along the way: Coahoma Community College, especially Dr. Vivian Presley and Dr. Valmadge Towner;the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mississippi Humanities Council, the Mississippi Arts Commission, and the Coahoma County Tourism Commission;Dr. Ann Abadie, Dr. Kenneth Holditch and the late Mr. Greg Boyd;Dr. Colby Kullman, Ms. Karen Kohlhaas, and Dr. Matt Foss, and last but not least, Ms. Panny Mayfield, whose dedication, leadership and service to the Mississippi Delta Tennessee Williams Festival for 28 years and counting have left a lasting mark.We are so grateful for this wonderful honor and recognition and to all of those who helped us reach this special milestone in our history. Thank you for encouraging us to keep moving forward and continuing to educate our world about one of the greatest American playwrights of all time, Tennessee Williams. Sincerely, Jen Waller, Director Coahoma County Higher Education Center/Cutrer Mansion On behalf of the MS Delta Tennessee Williams Festival 2020