The 34^th annual Ellis Island Medals of Honor will take place on Saturday May 11, 2019 on Ellis Island. This annual medal is awarded to 100 Americans, both native-born and naturalized, whose accomplishments in their field and inspired service to our nation are worthy of commendation. These leaders are a much-needed vanguard of hope, acceptance, and welcome in these uncertain times.

Returning as co-master of ceremonies will be Marvin Scott, a member of the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame, an Emmy-award winning journalist and Senior Correspondent of PIX11 News. Joining him as co-master of ceremonies will be eleven-time Emmy-award winner, Tamsen Fadel, the co-anchor of the PIX11 News at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. in New York City.

The Medals are presented by the Ellis Island Honors Society and are officially recognized by both Houses of Congress as one of our nation’s most prestigious awards, annually memorialized in the Congressional Record.

The Ellis Island Medals of Honor embody the spirit of America in their salute to tolerance, brotherhood, diversity and patriotism. Honorees are individuals who have made it their mission to share their wealth of knowledge, indomitable courage, boundless compassion, unique talents and selfless generosity with those less fortunate.  In addition to hosting their annual gala, EIHS remains dedicated to, and has raised significant funds for, the maintenance and restoration of Ellis Island.

For the event, Ellis Island is closed to the public as honorees and their guests arrive via a private ferry. More than 300 service members participate in an opening ceremony that includes a joint-service color guard representing all five branches of the military. Medalists accept their honor on stage in front of family and friends during a black-tie dinner in the historic Great Hall.

Since the Medal was founded in 1986, EIHS has honored distinguished and diverse Americans including seven Presidents of the United States, Vice-President Joe Biden, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Nobel Laureates Elie Wiesel and Malala Yousafzai, Coretta Scott King, John Sculley, Muhammad Ali, Lee Iacocca and Rosa Parks, among other outstanding Americans.

This year’s honorees include: recording artist Paula Abdul, television personality Montel Williams, King of Morocco, Muhammed VI, Senator Anthony Portantino, CNN Correspondent, DR. Sanjay Gupta, Executive Director of the U.N. World Food Programme, David Beasley, IBM CEO, Ginni Rometty, Mastercard President and CEO, Ajay Banga, composer of Ellis Island: The Dream of America, Peter Boyer, and more.

For more information or to see the full list of 2019 recipients, please visit www.EIHonors.org