Outstanding Americans by Choice

Image of an American by Choice Certificate

The Outstanding Americans by Choice initiative recognizes the outstanding achievements of naturalized U.S. citizens. Through civic participation, professional achievement, and responsible citizenship, recipients of this honor have demonstrated their commitment to this country and to the common civic values that unite us as Americans.

USCIS will recognize naturalized citizens who have made significant contributions to both their community and their adopted country on a case-by-case basis.

For more information about the initiative, please see this fact sheet (PDF, 149.91 KB).

Note: The following biographies have been provided by the ABC recipients.

2021

Sandra Lindsay, Director of Patient Care Services for Critical Care, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Northwell Health New Hyde Park, NY

Sandra Lindsay is the Director of Patient Care Services for Critical Care at Northwell Health’s Long Island Jewish Medical Center. She knows first-hand the health impacts COVID-19 has had on her patients.

Immaculée Ilibagiza, Author and Motivational Speaker, New York, NY

Born and raised in a small village in Rwanda, Immaculée Ilibagiza enjoyed a peaceful childhood with her loving parents and three brothers. She attended the National University of Rwanda to study electrical and mechanical engineering. While visiting her family on Easter break in 1994, Ilibagiza’s life was completely transformed.

Dr. Nguyen Dinh Thang Chief Executive Officer and President, Boat People SOS Falls Church, VA

Dr. Nguyen Dinh Thang first joined Boat People SOS (BPSOS) in 1988 as a volunteer. In 1995 he launched an advocacy campaign that resulted in the resettlement of over 18,000 former boat people from Vietnam to the United States. In 1997, Dr. Thang initiated a long-term effort to build capacity for the Vietnamese American community.

Sandy Hoa Dang Co-founder and Principal, Coinnovate Consulting, Washington, DC

Sandy Dang is co-founder and principal of Coinnovate Consulting in Washington D.C., which provides leadership training programs for corporations, nonprofits, governmental agencies, and academic institutions. Dang has cultivated a team of professionals to build the next generation of leaders.

Major Marisol A. Chalas, U.S. Army Congressional Fellow, U.S. Army Reserve, Washington, DC

Major Marisol Chalas is a 2017 U.S. Army Congressional Fellow and as part of the program she is serving as a Legislative Defense Fellow for U.S. Representative Betty McCollum (D-MN). Major Chalas has served in various public and private sector leadership positions and is a decorated pilot with over 27 years of experience in the U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard.

Meb Keflezighi, Professional Long Distance Runner, San Diego, CA

Meb Keflezighi is a professional long distance runner. He qualified for the 2016 Olympics in Rio and was considered the oldest Olympian distance runner at the age of 41. He won a silver medal in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, and finished in fourth place in the 2012 Olympics in London.

Collage of images to make a representation of the Statue of Liberty with the text No Photo Available.

Johan E. Uvin, Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC

Johan E. Uvin is the Acting Assistant Secretary for the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) at the U.S. Department of Education. He joined OCTAE in December 2009 as a senior policy advisor.

Captain Florent A. Groberg, U.S. Army (Ret.); Medal of Honor Recipient; Director, Veterans Outreach, Boeing, Washington, DC

Florent A. Groberg is a retired U.S. Army captain who was born in Poissy, France. He is a recipient of the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor for his heroism while serving in combat operations in Afghanistan in 2012.

Samantha Power, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York, NY

Ambassador Samantha Power is the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) and a member of President Barack Obama’s Cabinet. At the United Nations, Ambassador Power works to advance U.S. interests, promote and defend universal values, and address pressing global challenges to global peace, security, and prosperity.

Dr. Julian Chun-Chung Chow, Chair Professor, Hutto-Patterson Charitable Foundation, Child and Family Studies, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA

Dr. Julian Chun-Chung Chow is a professor at the School of Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley. He is considered a leading scholar in community practice, service delivery, and urban poverty in the field of social work.

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Outstanding Americans by Choice

2021

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