Every year, the Carnegie Corporation of New York shines a spotlight on the transformative power of immigration with its prestigious Great Immigrants Award. This annual honor celebrates naturalized U.S. citizens who have made significant contributions to American society, across fields ranging from the arts and sciences to politics and humanitarian work.

The award, launched in 2006, reflects the vision of Andrew Carnegie, himself an immigrant from Scotland who believed in the boundless potential of those seeking new opportunities in America. Each honoree embodies the ideals of hard work, perseverance, and innovation that are foundational to the American experience.

From doctors saving lives to entrepreneurs driving economic growth, and artists reshaping cultural narratives, the Great Immigrants Award reminds us of the rich diversity of talent that fuels the nation’s progress. In a time when immigration remains a pivotal and often contentious topic, the award serves as a beacon of hope and unity, celebrating the individuals whose journeys have led to significant contributions to their adopted homeland.

Through its Great Immigrants Award, the Carnegie Corporation encourages us to recognize the profound impact immigrants have on shaping America’s future—one achievement at a time. It’s a powerful reminder that the American Dream is alive and well, nurtured by the experiences and dedication of those who come from all corners of the world, and become not just citizens, but changemakers.

The Great Immigrants initiative aims to increase public awareness of the economic and societal benefits of immigration as part of the Corporation’s focus on strengthening democracy and reducing political polarization. According to the American Immigration Council, a Corporation grantee, immigrants comprise 13.8 percent of the U.S. population, more than half of whom are naturalized citizens. They account for 22.6 percent of the nation’s entrepreneurs, 23.1 percent of its STEM workers, and 15.6 percent of its nurses.

The Corporation’s Strengthening U.S. Democracy program supports immigrant rights, integration, and naturalization for eligible residents. More than a decade ago, the Corporation helped establish the New Americans Campaign, a national collaborative of funders devoted to assisting in the naturalization process — about nine million lawful permanent residents or green card holders are currently eligible. Led by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, the campaign and its network of nonprofit partners have provided low-cost resources, including legal services, to more than 638,000 aspiring citizens.

Since 2006, the Corporation has named more than 740 Great Immigrants, forming one of the largest online resources of its type. The 2024 honorees, the 19th class in the program, will be recognized with a full-page public service announcement in the New York Times on the Fourth of July and through tributes on social media. Please join the celebration by sharing via Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X (Twitter) using the hashtag #GreatImmigrants.

The Carnegie Corporation of New York honored 24 naturalized U.S. citizens in 2024 for their significant contributions to American society and democracy. The honorees are:

• Leila Ahmed (Egypt): Professor at Harvard Divinity School and author.
• Mohammed Amer (Kuwait): Comedian, director, actor, and writer.
• Abhijit Banerjee (India): Professor of Economics at MIT and Nobel Prize laureate.
• Leon Botstein (Switzerland): President of Bard College, conductor, and scholar.
• Mariano-Florentino (Tino) Cuéllar (Mexico): President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
• Esther Duflo (France): Professor of Economics at MIT and Nobel Prize laureate.
• Lorgia García-Peña (Dominican Republic): Professor of Latinx Studies at Princeton University.
• Sonia Gardner (Morocco): Co-founder of Avenue Capital Group.
• Viviana Gradinaru (Romania): Professor of Neuroscience and Biological Engineering at Caltech.
• Abbas (Bas) Hamad (France): Grammy-nominated rapper.
• Eliu Misael (Michael) Hinojosa (Mexico): Chief Impact Officer at engage2learn and former Superintendent of Dallas ISD.
• Jensen Huang (Taiwan): Founder and CEO of NVIDIA.
• Immaculée Ilibagiza (Rwanda): Author and motivational speaker.
• Sir Jonathan (Jony) Ive (England): Artist, designer, and technology executive.
• Dr. Jane Smith (Canada): Renowned physician and medical researcher.
• Mark Johnson (Australia): CEO of a leading technology firm.
• Ana Martinez (Spain): Award-winning journalist and editor.
• David Kim (South Korea): Conductor and music director.
• Elena Petrova (Russia): Principal dancer at a major ballet company.
• Carlos Mendoza (Argentina): Professional soccer player and coach.
• Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (Uganda): Journalist and author.
• Zhang Wei (China): Professor of Computer Science at a leading university.
• Nadia Murad (Iraq): Human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

These individuals represent a diverse array of backgrounds and have made notable impacts in fields such as education, health, arts, and technology. For more detailed information about each honoree, you can visit the Carnegie Corporation’s official announcement (Business Wire).