The Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest national award for civilians was awarded to 21 persons on Tuesday night. It is the last time President Obama will award the Medals of freedom before he leaves office in January.
Here’s a list of the 21 recipients.
NBA all-time leading goalscorer, Karim Abdul Jabar
Blackfeet Tribal leader and advocate for Native American self-determination, Elouise Cobell (posthumous)
Comedian and daytime talk show host, Ellen Degeneres
Seven-time Academy Award winner, Robert De Niro
Polymath physicist, Richard Garwin
Philanthropist couple, Melinda and Bill Gates
The Architect who designed the Walt Disney concert Hall, Frank Gehry
One of the software developers for NASA’s Apollo, Margaret Hamilton
Two-time Academy Award winner, Tom Hanks
One of the foremost persons in the development of computer programming software, Rear Admiral Grace Hopper (Posthumous)
NBA legend, Michael Jordan
Veteran artist and designer, Maya Lin
Producer and screenwriter of the Saturday Night Live fame, Lorne Michael
Musician and recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Diana Ross
Veteran broadcaster, Vin Scully
Singer, songwriter, and bandleader, Bruce Springsteen
Two-time Emmy award winner, Cicely Tyson
Actor, Producer, and director, Richard Redford
President of the Miami Dade College, Eduardo Padron
