Four Indian-Americans namely,
- Preet Bharara US Attorney, Southern District of New York
- Rakesh Khurana Danoff Dean of Harvard College and Marvin Bower Professor of Leadership and Development
- Madhulika Sikka Vice President, Executive Editor, Mic (India)
- Abraham Verghese, Physician, Professor, Author (India)
are among the 38 personalities, who have been honoured with 2015 “Great Immigrants: The Pride of America” award by Carnegie Corporation of New York. The immigrants have been honoured for their “vital” contributions to the fabric of the nation and the strength of its democracy.
As a result of immigrants, the United States has become the most prosperous nation in history. The United States became the home of immigrants seeking religious freedom, economic opportunity, and refuge from war. As immigrants adopted aspects of American culture, so did Americans adopt aspects of immigrant cultures. Immigrants from Germany and Ireland came to the U.S. between 1840s and 1850s. In spite of their differences, their children often blended into American society. The United States experienced a large wave of Southern and Eastern European immigration between 1880 and 1920. We now have Americans with immigrant roots and connections to a country they have never seen or been to. While they can find out more about their roots (read this page for more information), it is often stories of their ancestors that keep them tied to their heritage.
Nonetheless, 38 immigrants honoured this year come from more than 30 countries around the world and represent leadership in a wide range of professions. Other notable honorees include Nobel Prize-winning Biochemist of Israeli origin Arieh Warshel, German-origin Nobel Prize-winning Neuroscientist Thomas Sudhof, Colombian-origin actress Sofia Vergara among others.
In addition, the Corporation recognizes new citizens with a companion website at greatimmigrants.org, which includes the stories of many other naturalized citizens, video and audio recordings, and interactive quizzes. Carnegie Corporation of New York was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 “to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding.”
