Basketball star Michael Jordan, actor Robert De Niro and music legend Bruce Springsteen were among the 21 people honoured with the Presidential Medal of Freedom . Ellen DeGeneres was one of 21 recipients honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a prestigious award granted to individuals who have contributed to notable change and progress in the United States.

• During a ceremony at the White House President Barack Obama gave out the awards — the nation’s highest civilian honour — for his last time to a diverse group of sports stars, scientists, artists and philanthropists.

• The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor a civilian can receive, and recognizes individuals who have made contributions to world peace, culture or other national interests of the United States. This year’s honorees include Bruce Springsteen, Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Michael Jordan, Bill and Melinda Gates, Tom Hanks, Vin Scully and notable others.

Presidential Medal of Freedom:

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with the comparable Congressional Gold Medal—the highest civilian award of the United States. It was established in 1963 by President John Kennedy, superseding the Medal of Freedom that was established by President Harry S. Truman in 1945 to honor civilian service during World War II

The award is not limited to U.S. citizens and, while it is a civilian award, it can also be awarded to military personnel and worn on the uniform.