On Tuesday, November 22nd, 21 people recognized for their contributions to society received Medals of Freedom from President Barack Obama.

Recipients included scientists, activists, athletes, artists, and philanthropists. According to White House’s Office of the Press, the Medal of Freedom is the “Nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially 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.”

These people are inspirations in a rather tense time and serve as great role models for us all.

A Quick Look at Recipients

(Detailed look can be found at whitehouse.gov; be sure to see full details here. )

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

• Star basketball player
• Social Justice Activist

Elouise Cobell (posthumous)

• Native American rights and empowerment

Ellen DeGeneres

• Comedian, host of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, voice actress, producer, and writer
• Made TV history by coming out as lesbian in 1997
• Passionate advocate for equality and fairness

Robert De Niro

• Prestigious and decorated 50 year career in the American film industry

Richard Garwin

• A pioneer polymath physicist that contributed greatly to science and technology and has even advised administrations
• Highly awarded

Bill and Melinda Gates

• Created the Gates Foundation
• Great philanthropic contributions, totalling over $36 billion

Frank Gehry

• A prolific architect that has helped define modern architecture

Margaret H. Hamilton

• Leader of a team for NASA’s Apollo command and lunar modules
• Great contributions to software engineering

Tom Hanks

• Prestigious actor and filmmaker
• Advocate  for social and environmental justice and veterans

Grace Hopper (posthumous)

• Contributed highly to computers and programming development 1940s-1980s
• Teacher and leader of computer science

Michael Jordan

• Prolific basketball athlete

Maya Lin

• Artist and designer known for her work in sculpture and landscape art
• Designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.
• Environmentalist that brings awareness to this issue through her art

Lorne Michaels

• Producer and screenwriter, especially known for Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and 30 Rock

Newt Minow

• Attorney, Supreme Court clerk and counsel to the Governor of Illinois
• As Chairman of the Federal Communications Committee (FCC), helped shape the future of American television and was a vigorous advocate for broadcasting that promoted the public interest
• After leaving FCC, Minow practices law privately and stays devoted to numerous public and charitable causes

Eduardo Padrón

• President of Miami Dade College (MDC), one of the largest institutions of higher education in the United States.
• National voice for access and inclusion in education and improvements in teaching methodology

Robert Redford

• Accomplished actor, director, producer, businessman, and environmentalist
• Founder of Sundance Institute that promotes indie artists at its annual Sundance Film Festival

Diana Ross

• Iconic career of 50 years within the entertainment industry in music, film, television, theater, and fashion

Vin Scully

• Broadcaster for baseball for 67 seasons, helped define key points in baseball history

Bruce Springsteen

• Singer, songwriter, and bandleader
• His work has shaped American music, challenging us to realize the American dream
• Kennedy Center honoree, he and his band, E Street Band have both been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Cicely Tyson

• Prolific and decorated actress