Bill Gates, Ellen DeGeneres, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are among Obama’s 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients

The White House has announced the 21 recipients of this year’s Presidential Medal of Freedom. The highest civilian honor in the country, the medals are awarded to individuals who made exceptional contributions to US national interests and security, world peace, or culture.

The White House has announced the 21 recipients of this year’s Presidential Medal of Freedom. The highest civilian honor in the country, the medals are awarded to individuals who made exceptional contributions to US national interests and security, world peace, or culture.

The recipients are:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Elouise Cobell (posthumous)
Ellen DeGeneres
Robert De Niro
Richard Garwin
Bill and Melinda Gates
Frank Gehry
Margaret H. Hamilton
Tom Hanks
Grace Hopper (posthumous)
Michael Jordan
Maya Lin
Lorne Michaels
Newt Minow
Eduardo Padrón
Robert Redford
Diana Ross
Vin Scully
Bruce Springsteen
Cicely Tyson

Past recipients include Margaret Thatcher, Bob Dylan and Mother Teresa.

Bill Gates, Ellen DeGeneres, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are among Obama’s 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients

The White House has announced the 21 recipients of this year’s Presidential Medal of Freedom. The highest civilian honor in the country, the medals are awarded to individuals who made exceptional contributions to US national interests and security, world peace, or culture.

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