President Barack Obama recognized the accomplishments of actors, activists, scientists and humanitarians by awarding each one a Presidential Medal of Freedom in a White House East Room ceremony yesterday.

Mr. Obama called the 16 recipients "some of the finest citizens in the world". Hailing from very diverse backgrounds – from the tennis court to the Supreme Court – all have been agents of change in their communities and around the world: Nancy Goodman Brinker; Pedro José Greer, Jr.; Stephen Hawking; Jack Kemp; Sen. Edward Kennedy; Billie Jean King; Rev. Joseph Lowery; Chief Joe Medicine Crow; Harvey Milk; Sandra Day O'Connor; Sidney Poitier; Chita Rivera; Mary Robinson; Janet Davison Rowley; Desmond Tutu; and Muhammad Yunus

Read more about the award winners in Good News Network, or watch video report below. Watch the entire 40 minute ceremony at the White House blog.