Ernie Banks Known to many as “Mr. Cub,” Ernie Banks is
one of the greatest baseball players of all time. During his 19 seasons with the
Chicago Cubs, he played in 11 All-Star Games, hit over 500 home runs, and became
the first National League player to win Most Valuable Player honors in
back-to-back years. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977, his
first year of eligibility.
Ben Bradlee Ben Bradlee is one of the
most respected newsmen of his generation. During his tenure as executive editor
of The Washington Post, Mr. Bradlee oversaw coverage of the Watergate scandal,
successfully challenged the Federal Government over the right to publish the
Pentagon Papers, and guided the newspaper through some of its most challenging
moments. He also served in the Navy during World War II.
Bill Clinton
President Clinton was the 42nd President of the United States. Before taking
office, he served as Governor and Attorney General of the State of Arkansas.
Following his second term, President Clinton established the Clinton Foundation
to improve global health, strengthen economies, promote health and wellness, and
protect the environment. He also formed the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund with
President George W. Bush in 2010.
Daniel Inouye (posthumous) Daniel
Inouye was a lifelong public servant. As a young man, he fought in World War II
with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, for which he received the Medal of Honor.
He was later elected to the Hawaii Territorial House of Representatives, the
United States House of Representatives, and the United States Senate. Senator
Inouye was the first Japanese American to serve in Congress, representing the
people of Hawaii from the moment they joined the Union.
Daniel Kahneman
Daniel Kahneman is a pioneering scholar of
psychology. After escaping Nazi occupation in World War II, Dr. Kahneman
immigrated to Israel, where he served in the Israel Defense Forces and trained
as a psychologist. Alongside Amos Tversky, he applied cognitive psychology to
economic analysis, laying the foundation for a new field of research and earning
the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2002. He is currently a professor at Princeton
University.
Richard Lugar Richard Lugar represented Indiana in the
United States Senate for more than 30 years. An internationally respected
statesman, he is best known for his bipartisan leadership and decades-long
commitment to reducing the threat of nuclear weapons. Prior to serving in
Congress, Senator Lugar was a Rhodes Scholar and Mayor of Indianapolis from 1968
to 1975. He currently serves as President of the Lugar Center.
Loretta
Lynn Loretta Lynn is a country music legend. Raised in rural Kentucky, she
emerged as one of the first successful female country music vocalists in the
early 1960s, courageously breaking barriers in an industry long dominated by
men. Ms. Lynn's numerous accolades include the Kennedy Center Honors in 2003 and
the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.
Mario Molina Mario
Molina is a visionary chemist and environmental scientist. Born in Mexico, Dr.
Molina came to America to pursue his graduate degree. He later earned the Nobel
Prize in Chemistry for discovering how chlorofluorocarbons deplete the ozone
layer. Dr. Molina is a professor at the University of California, San Diego;
Director of the Mario Molina Center for Energy and Environment; and a member of
the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Sally Ride
(posthumous) Sally Ride was the first American female astronaut to travel to
space. As a role model to generations of young women, she advocated passionately
for science education, stood up for racial and gender equality in the classroom,
and taught students from every background that there are no limits to what they
can accomplish. Dr. Ride also served in several administrations as an advisor on
space exploration.
Bayard Rustin
(posthumous) Bayard Rustin was an unyielding activist for civil rights,
dignity, and equality for all. An advisor to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., he promoted nonviolent resistance, participated in one of the first
Freedom Rides, organized the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and
fought tirelessly for marginalized communities at home and abroad. As an openly
gay African American, Mr. Rustin stood at the intersection of several of the
fights for equal rights.
Arturo Sandoval Arturo Sandoval is a
celebrated jazz trumpeter, pianist, and composer. Born outside Havana, he became
a prot�g� of jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie and gained international acclaim as a
dynamic performer. He defected to the United States in 1990 and later became an
American citizen. He has been awarded nine Grammy Awards and is widely
considered one of the greatest living jazz artists.
Dean Smith Dean
Smith was head coach of the University of North Carolina basketball team from
1961 to 1997. In those 36 years, he earned 2 national championships, was named
National Coach of the Year multiple times, and retired as the winningest
men's college basketball coach in history. Ninety-six percent of his players
graduated from college. Mr. Smith has also remained a dedicated civil rights
advocate throughout his career.
Gloria Steinem Gloria Steinem is a
renowned writer and activist for women's equality. She was a leader in the
women's liberation movement, co-founded Ms. magazine, and helped launch a wide
variety of groups and publications dedicated to advancing civil rights. Ms.
Steinem has received dozens of awards over the course of her career, and remains
an active voice for women's rights.
Cordy Tindell “C.T.” Vivian C.T.
Vivian is a distinguished minister, author, and organizer. A leader in the Civil
Rights Movement and friend to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he
participated in Freedom Rides and sit-ins across our country. Dr. Vivian also
helped found numerous civil rights organizations, including Vision, the National
Anti-Klan Network, and the Center for Democratic Renewal. In 2012, he returned
to serve as interim President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Patricia Wald Patricia Wald is one of the most respected appellate judges
of her generation. After graduating as 1 of only 11 women in her Yale University
Law School class, she became the first woman appointed to the United States
Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, and served as Chief Judge
from 1986-1991. She later served on the International Criminal Tribunal in The
Hague. Ms. Wald currently serves on the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight
Board.
Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey is one of the
world's most successful broadcast journalists. She is best known for creating
The Oprah Winfrey Show, which became the highest rated talk show in America for
25 years. Ms. Winfrey has long been active in philanthropic causes and expanding
opportunities for young women. She has received numerous awards throughout her
career, including the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award in 2002 and the Kennedy Center
Honors in 2010.
