During the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation’s annual meeting Friday, the Landy Teller Champion for Culture and the Arts Award was presented.

In 2017, an anonymous gift was made in memory of Teller, who was a founding member and on the Board of Directors of the SCHF. The gift’s intent was to start an endowment that would fund an award to be presented to an individual who contributes to culture and the arts in Vicksburg.

This year, Mike Calnan was presented with the award.

“I am deeply honored to be receiving this award,” Calnan said. “I had no idea I was being considered, and I am almost at a loss for words, which is unlike me.”

Stacey Mahoney, who is the executive director of the SCHF, said Calnan has been a true asset to the foundation dedicating countless hours of his time.

“Mike has been a vital volunteer. He maintains our website and is pretty much at every event taking pictures and posting those pictures on our Facebook page,” Mahoney said.

“When I first came on with the foundation,” Mahoney said, “Mike helped with the SCHF’s 20th anniversary. He made the photo exhibit that was on display in the exhibit room that included pictures of the foundation 20 years.”

“The SCHF has just been a part of my life since retiring from the Army 20 years ago,” Calnan said. “I feel like I belong here, and I think everything that the SCHF has to offer is wonderful, and I just want to do my part.”

In addition to Calnan’s support, he said his family has also been involved at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center.

In 2003, Calnan’s youngest daughter, Heather, was active in the River Kids After School Art program. He said his older daughter, Cami, offered workshops at the center.

Calnan is a Ret. Lt. Col. Army Engineer, who served in Germany, Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia, California, Kansas, Korea, Honduras, and Mississippi during his 28-year career. He retired in 1998 after assignments in Vicksburg at ERDC in a camouflage-test program, and in the 412th Theatre Engineer Command.

Calnan, who is now a board member of the SCHF, is also active in many other Vicksburg organizations, including the Vicksburg Theatre Guild, where he has served on the board of directors in a variety of positions since 2000, the Southern Heritage Air Foundation, and the Vicksburg Association of Marketing Professionals.

In addition to his two daughters, Heather and Cami, Mike and his wife Karen also have a son, William, and two grandchildren, Mia and Michael.