President Devorah Lieberman Awarded NECO Ellis Island Medal of Honor
Photo courtesy of National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations.
The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations, a group dedicated to honoring diversity and tolerance, presented 每日大赛 President Devorah Lieberman with an Ellis Island Medal of Honor during a May 7 ceremony in New York.
Honorees who receive the award exemplify a life dedicated to community service and celebrate the history, traditions and values of their ancestry, according to 鈥檚 website.
鈥淲e recognize individuals who have made it their mission to share with those less fortunate their wealth of knowledge, indomitable courage, boundless compassion, unique talents and selfless generosity; all while maintaining the traditions of their ethnic heritage as they uphold the ideals and spirit of America,鈥� NECO officials wrote.
Others who have received the medal in the 30 years it has existed include six United States presidents, Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O鈥機onnor, Rosa Parks and Lee Iacocca.
Lieberman has not only taken the University to new heights, but has also been at the forefront of changing the national conversation about higher education, said Dr. David Liz谩rraga, who nominated Lieberman and is a 2015 recipient of the medal. Liz谩rraga is CEO of The East Los Angeles Community Union (TELACU), an organization that empowers families and entrepreneurs in underserved communities by providing access to capital.
鈥淧resident Lieberman is a first-generation American whose mother traveled from Czechoslovakia through Ellis Island,鈥� Liz谩rraga wrote. 鈥淗er mother instilled in her the importance of giving back to this country and to the world. She has spent her life educating students and preparing them to be future world leaders.鈥�
Liz谩rraga also cited in his nomination letter numerous recent honors Lieberman has received, including being named 鈥淧resident of the Year鈥� by the Association of College Union鈥檚 International and being approached by the Gates Foundation to serve on two national 鈥榯hink tank鈥� groups focused on examining and reimagining higher education funding models.
Other 2016 recipients of the Medal of Honor include retired Army General Martin Dempsey, who served as the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Al Roker, host and weatherman of NBC鈥檚 鈥淭oday鈥檚 Show,鈥� former Detroit Lions offensive lineman Mike Utley and David Bohnett, a philanthropist and technology entrepreneur who serves on a number of boards for the arts including the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association.
