List of awards and honors received by Barack Obama

Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, has received numerous honors in recognition of his career in politics.

Obama received the Norwegian Nobel Committee's Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, The Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education's Ambassador of Humanity Award in 2014, the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in 2017, and the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award in 2018. He was on TIME Magazine's Time Person of the Year in 2008 and 2012.

He also received two Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word Album for Dreams from My Father (2006), and The Audacity of Hope (2008) as well as two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Narrator for Our Great National Parks (2022), and Working: What We Do All Day (2023).

National honors

country	Date	Decoration
United States	January 5, 2017	Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service [1]

Nobel Peace Prize

On October 9, 2009, Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. ^[2]

Foreign honors

Country	Date	Decoration
Saudi Arabia	June 3, 2009	Order of King Abdulaziz (Collar) [3]
Israel	March 21, 2013	President's Medal [4]
Philippines	April 28, 2014	Order of Sikatuna (Grand Collar) [5]

Scholastic

Barack Obama with the Nobel Prize medal and diploma, which he was awarded in 2009

Honorary degrees

Location	Date	School	Degree	Gave Commencement Address
Illinois	June 4, 2005	Knox College	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) [6] [7]	Yes [8]
Massachusetts	June 2, 2006	University of Massachusetts Boston	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) [9]	Yes [10]
Illinois	June 16, 2006	Northwestern University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) [11]	Yes [12]
Louisiana	August 13, 2006	Xavier University of Louisiana	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) [13]	Yes [14]
District of Columbia	May 12, 2007	Howard University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) [15]
New Hampshire	May 19, 2007	Southern New Hampshire University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) [16]	Yes [17]
Connecticut	May 25, 2008	Wesleyan University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) [18] [19]	Yes [20]
Indiana	May 17, 2009	University of Notre Dame	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) [21] [22]	Yes [23]
Michigan	May 1, 2010	University of Michigan	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) [24]	Yes [25]
Virginia	May 9, 2010	Hampton University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) [26]	Yes [27]
Ohio	May 5, 2013	Ohio State University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) [28]	Yes [29]
Georgia (U.S. state)	May 19, 2013	Morehouse College	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) [30]	Yes [30]
South Africa	June 28, 2013	University of Johannesburg	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) [31]
District of Columbia	May 7, 2016	Howard University	Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) [15] [32]	Yes [33]
New Jersey	May 15, 2016	Rutgers University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) [34] [35]	Yes [36]
Hawaii	December 21, 2019	University of Hawaiʻi	Doctor of Humane Letters (D.H.L.) [37]

Honorary awards

Year	Award	Ref.
2005	NAACP Chairman's Award
2007	NAACP Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Nonfiction for The Audacity of Hope
2008	Congressional Black Caucus Harold Washington Award	[38]
2008	Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Incorporated Phoenix Award	[39]
2008	TIME magazine's Time Person of the Year
2009	Norwegian Nobel Committee's Nobel Peace Prize
2011	OMB Watch/National Security Archive/Project On Government Oversight / Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Transparency Award	[40] [41]
2012	TIME magazine's Time Person of the Year
2013	New Musical Express NME Award for Hero of the Year
2014	The Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education's "Ambassador of Humanity" award	[42]
2017	John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award	[43] [44]
2017	For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology "Make It Loud" award for FIRST / STEM Education	[45]
2018	Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award	[46]
2021	Aisppd Onlus Medal Award at the IX International Day of Awareness and Prevention of Women Diseases Tribute to International Women's Day

Competitive awards

Year	Association	Category	Project	Result	Ref.
2006	Grammy Award	Best Spoken Word Album	Dreams from My Father	Won
2008	Grammy Award	Best Spoken Word Album	The Audacity of Hope	Won
2022	Grammy Award	Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling)	A Promised Land	Nominated
2022	Primetime Emmy Award	Outstanding Narrator	Our Great National Parks: A World of Wonder	Won
2022	Children's and Family Emmy Award	Outstanding Short Form Program	We the People	Won
2022	Children's and Family Emmy Award	Outstanding Preschool Animated Series	Ada Twist, Scientist: Seasons 1-2	Won
2022	Children's and Family Emmy Award	Outstanding Fiction Special	Waffles + Mochi: Holiday Feast	Nominated
2022	Children's and Family Emmy Award	Outstanding Preschool Series	Waffles + Mochi: Season 1	Nominated
2023	Children's and Family Emmy Award	Outstanding Preschool Series	Waffles + Mochi's Restaurant	Nominated
2023	Primetime Emmy Award	Outstanding Narrator	Working: What We Do All Day: The Middle	Won

• 2008: His concession speech after the New Hampshire primary was set to music by independent artists as the music video "Yes We Can", which was viewed 10 million times on YouTube in its first month ^[47] and received a Daytime Emmy Award. ^[48]
• February 9, 2020: Best Documentary Feature Academy Award for American Factory , made by the Obamas' production company, Higher Ground. ^[49] Barack Obama was not personally among the winners of the award.

Freedom of the City

• 2013: Cape Town. Awarded with Michelle Obama. The Award was accepted on their behalf by acting United States Ambassador Virginia Palmer. ^{[50] [51]}

Namesakes

Main article: List of things named after Barack Obama

There are 13 community schools named after him, including: Barack & Michelle Obama Elementary School, St Paul, Minnesota; Barack Obama Charter Elementary School, Compton, California; Barack Obama Elementary School, Hempstead, New York; Barack Obama Elementary School, Richmond, Virginia; President Barack Obama School - Public School 34, Jersey City, New Jersey. Barack Obama School of International Studies (Public 6-12 IB), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy at A. Maceo Smith (BOMLA), magnet secondary school for boys located in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas, Texas.

References

1. Lamothe, Dan. "Obama got the Pentagon’s medal for distinguished public service, and Sarah Palin didn’t like it", Washington Post (January 5, 2017).
2. Erlanger, Steven (October 9, 2009). "Barack Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize". The New York Times . Retrieved August 27, 2024.
3. Reuters
4. Cashman, Greer (March 21, 2013). "Peres bestows on Obama the Medal of Distinction". Jerusalem Post . Archived from the original on December 18, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
5. "The Order of Sikatuna". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Officialgazette.gov.ph. January 21, 2014. Archived from the original on August 25, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
6. "Commencement 2005 - Knox College News". departments.knox.edu. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
7. "Knox College Honorary Degrees - Our History - Knox College". Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
8. Barack Obama Gives 2005 Commencement Address at Knox College. Knox College. July 16, 2013. Archived from the original on July 6, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2021– via YouTube.
9. "Obama Speech - University of Massachusetts at Boston Commencement Address". obamaspeeches.com. Archived from the original on July 19, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
10. Barack Obama: Commencement 2006. UMass Boston. March 12, 2009. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021– via YouTube.
11. "Commencement 2006: Sen. Obama to Address Grads". Northwestern University. Archived from the original on December 14, 2006. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
12. 2006 Northwestern Commencement - Sen. Barack Obama. NorthwesternU. July 15, 2008. Archived from the original on July 2, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021– via YouTube.
13. "Sen. Obama addresses Xavier graduates". ’’USA Today’’. Archived from the original on April 6, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
14. 2006-08-11 - Barack Obama Promotes Empathy: Xavier University Commencement. Edwin Rutsch. August 26, 2010. Archived from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021– via YouTube.
15. "Recipients of Honorary Degrees (By Year) - Office of the Secretary - Howard University". Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
16. "SNHU Commencement with Sen. Barack Obama". Southern New Hampshire University. Archived from the original on July 4, 2007.
17. SNHU Commencement Address. BarackObamadotcom. May 21, 2007. Archived from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021– via YouTube.
18. Barack Obama Receives Honorary Degree at Wesleyan University. spazeboydotnet. May 26, 2008. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2021– via YouTube.
19. "Obama encourages public service in commencement address". Archived from the original on May 6, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
20. Barack Obama at Wesleyan Commencement Ceremony. BarackObamadotcom. May 25, 2008. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021– via YouTube.
21. Dame, ENR/PAZ // University Communications: Web // University of Notre. "President Obama to deliver Notre Dame's Commencement address // News // Notre Dame News // University of Notre Dame". Archived from the original on May 31, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
22. "Honorary degree recipients, 1844-2016" (PDF). University of Notre Dame . August 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 21, 2017. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
23. Commencement 2009: President Barack Obama's commencement address at Notre Dame. University of Notre Dame. May 24, 2009. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021– via YouTube.
24. "Honorary Degrees Awarded 1836-Present" (PDF). University of Michigan . 207. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
25. President Obama at Michigan Commencement. The Obama White House. May 1, 2010. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021– via YouTube.
26. "Obama Tells HU Grads to be Role Models and Mentors : Hampton University News". Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
27. President Obama at Hampton University. The Obama White House. May 9, 2010. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2021– via YouTube.
28. "Honorary Degree - University Awards & Recognition - the Ohio State University". Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
29. President Obama Speaks at The Ohio State University Commencement Ceremony. The Obama White House. May 5, 2013. Archived from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021– via YouTube.
30. President Obama Delivers Morehouse College Commencement Address. The Obama White House. May 20, 2013. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2021– via YouTube.
31. "Barack Obama accepts UJ doctorate". News24. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
32. "Commencement 2016 Recap | Howard University". www2.howard.edu. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
33. President Obama Delivers the Commencement Address at Howard University. The Obama White House. May 7, 2016. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021– via YouTube.
34. "Past Rutgers University Honorary Degree Recipients | Page 9 | Office of the Secretary of the University". Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
35. "Commencement 2016 | Rutgers University". Archived from the original on May 16, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
36. President Obama Delivers the Rutgers University Commencement Address. The Obama White House. May 15, 2016. Archived from the original on June 20, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2021– via YouTube.
37. "Honorary degrees conferred by the University of Hawaii". www.hawaii.edu. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
38. Stewart, Nikita (September 28, 2008). "Obama Hails Those Who Paved His Way". Archived from the original on April 4, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2017– via washingtonpost.com.
39. "Senator Barack Obama Receives Phoenix Award at ALC ’08 Gala Dinner", Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (September 29, 2008), via Archive.org
40. "President Receives Transparency Award from Open-Government Coalition". whitehouse.gov . April 7, 2011. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2021– via National Archives.
41. Phillip, Abby (March 30, 2011). "Shh! Obama gets anti-secrecy award". Politico . Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
42. Grossberg, Josh."USC Shoah Foundation and Steven Spielberg Honor President Barack Obama with Ambassador for Humanity Award" Archived March 7, 2017, at the Wayback Machine , USC Shoah Foundation (May 7, 2014).
43. "Award Recipients | JFK Library". Archived from the original on May 8, 2017. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
44. "Former President Barack H. Obama Announced as Recipient of 2017 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award | JFK Library". Archived from the original on April 8, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
45. "FIRST Honors President Barack Obama, Commits to Closing STEM Equity Gap". FIRST. November 8, 2017. Archived from the original on April 22, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
46. "Barack Obama receives Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights award at NYC gala". PBS . December 13, 2018. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
47. Strange, Hannah (March 5, 2008). "Celebrities join YouTube revolution". The Times. London. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved December 18, 2008.(subscription required)
48. Wapple .latimes.com/soundboard/2008/06/emmys-give-knuc.html. "Emmys give knuckle bump to will.i.am; more videos on the way". Archived from the original on May 16, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
49. "Obamas' Production Company Wins First Oscar With 'American Factory'". FIRST. February 9, 2020. Archived from the original on February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
50. "Acting US Ambassador accepts scroll for Freedom of the City on behalf of the Obamas". Politicsweb. June 9, 2013. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015.
51. Cronje, Jan (May 27, 2013). "Award for Obamas 'not a game'". IOL News. Archived from the original on July 17, 2013.