The award honors U.S. citizens who have distinguished themselves within their own ethnic groups while exemplifying the values of the American way of life
USC President C. L. Max Nikias was among the 100 Americans who received the 2016 Ellis Island Medals of Honor from theNational Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) on May 7.
This year marks the medal’s 30th anniversary. The Ellis Island Medals of Honor ceremony featured a significant military presence and patriotic performers as well as notable speakers, followed by a black-tie gala dinner in the historic Ellis Island Great Hall.
Nikias, the 11th president of USC, chairs the USC Health System Board and serves as chairman of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities. He has been at USC since 1991 as a professor, director of national research centers, dean, provost and now president. He holds faculty appointments in both electrical engineering and the classics, and currently teaches an undergraduate course on the culture of the Athenian democracy.
“On behalf of USC, I am proud to accept the Ellis Island Medal of Honor,” said Nikias, who was born in Cyprus. “The United States is a nation built on diversity and has long welcomed newcomers to its shores. These values are very much shared by USC, which welcomes students from all 50 states and 128 nations, representing 90 different religious views of the world. I salute the efforts of NECO to highlight the diversity that has benefited our country and am honored to stand amongst this year’s Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipients.”
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