The Ellis Island Honors Society is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating the enduring power of the American experience. Rooted in the historic legacy of Ellis Island, EIHS honors the stories, contributions, and shared values of Americans from every background, heritage, and walk of life.
For generations, Ellis Island stood as a gateway to hope, opportunity, and new beginnings. Today, EIHS continues to preserve and advance that legacy through the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, established in 1986 to recognize Americans whose achievements, service, and commitment reflect the best of the American spirit while honoring the heritage and traditions that helped shape their personal journeys.
At the heart of the Ellis Island Honors Society’s mission is the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, established in 1986 to recognize Americans whose achievements, service, and commitment reflect the best of our nation.
Medalists represent a wide range of fields, including business, government, education, science, medicine, the arts, philanthropy, public service, the military, and humanitarian work. While their backgrounds and accomplishments are diverse, they are united by integrity, excellence, and a dedication to serving others.
Through the Medal and its broader initiatives, EIHS celebrates heritage, strengthens civic understanding, and honors the many stories that continue to shape America.
Since the medal was founded, we have honored distinguished and diverse Americans including 8 US presidents.
Other well-known medalists include 16th Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Martin Dempsey, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Nobel Prize laureates, including Elie Wiesel and Malala Yousafzai; President of The World Bank Ajay Banga, CEO of Mayo Clinic Dr. Gianrico Farrugia, pioneering activist Rosa Parks, CEO of NextEra Energy John Ketchum, former Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt, former IBM CEO Ginni Rometty, Whoopi Goldberg, CEO of the Recording Academy Harvey Mason jr., founder of the Carlyle Group David Rubenstein, David and Susan Rockefeller, and Lee Iacocca.
Our Medalist Archive is a searchable database of all medalists from 1986 to present.
Nominations for the 2027 Medals of Honor are now open!
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Nominations for the 2027 Medals of Honor are now open! 〰️
2027 Nomination Criteria
The 2027 Ellis Island Medals of Honor will take place on May 15, 2027 on Ellis Island.
Nominees for 2027 should be individuals of exceptional integrity whose actions and reputation exemplify honorable leadership; whose passion has guided a meaningful commitment to a social cause, humanitarian philosophy, or larger purpose; and whose professional, academic, civic, or humanitarian accomplishments demonstrate true gravitas.
Consideration should also be given to objective recognition such as peer-reviewed awards, citations, innovations, inventions, or other notable honors. Above all, nominees should have made a meaningful humanitarian impact through personal commitment, time, leadership, and sustained effort beyond financial support.
INTEGRITY - The nominee should be a person of integrity who has done, or been the impetus for, an honorable act that exemplifies their character and reputation
PASSION - Discuss how passion has led the nominee to focus their lives on a social cause, an ideological concept, a humanitarian philosophy, etc.
GRAVITAS - Consider if the nominee received any academic, professional and humanitarian accolades. Please mention any objective peer-reviewed awards or citations, innovations, inventions or humanitarian recognition’s
HUMANITARIAN - Detail the nominee’s commitment and efforts on behalf of humanitarian causes. Humanitarian efforts should be considered beyond financial contributions. Please describe how their personal time and passion have helped move their cause forward
Please note that the Medal is not awarded posthumously