Retired NBA legend Michael Jordan, “Saturday Night Live” boss Lorne Michaels and billionaire philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates will be among 21 individuals who will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom at a ceremony later this month, the White House announced Wednesday.
“The Presidential Medal of Freedom is not just our nation’s highest civilian honor — it’s a tribute to the idea that all of us, no matter where we come from, have the opportunity to change this country for the better,” President Obama said in a statement.
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“From scientists, philanthropists, and public servants to activists, athletes, and artists, these 21 individuals have helped push America forward, inspiring millions of people around the world along the way,” he added.
Others being recognized for their “meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors” include actors Robert DeNiro, Tom Hanks, Robert Redford and Cicely Tyson; NBA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; singers Bruce Springsteen and Diana Ross; nuclear physicist Richard Garwin; architect Frank Gehry; artist Maya Lin; former Federal Communications Committee Chairman Newt Minow; Miami Dade College president Eduardo Padron; renowned sports broadcaster Vin Scully; and computer scientist Margaret Hamilton.
Native-American activist Elouise Cobell and computing pioneer Grace Hopper will also receive the medal posthumously.
The ceremony will take place at the White House shortly before Thanksgiving on Nov. 22.
