Outstanding Americans by Choice
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.
2011
In late 2009, Mr. Nawar Shora decided to dedicate himself full-time to serving his country as a civil servant. Mr. Shora joined the Transportation Security Administration as a Senior Policy Advisor with the Office of the Special Counselor. He was part of a small cadre of staff chosen to help build the foundation of a paradigm shift within the TSA screening process to better balance the security and liberty of the traveling public.
Aster Zeleke is the Deputy Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Newark Asylum Office. Ms. Zeleke brings to her position a commitment to working with refugees, and first-hand knowledge of the refugee experience, having originally come to the United States as an Ethiopian refugee in 1983.
Citizenship Counts was founded by Gerda Weissmann Klein who wanted to teach today’s youth and the greater community-at-large that American citizenship is a gift that should not be taken for granted. Mrs. Klein is a humanitarian, author, human rights activist, Holocaust survivor and a proud naturalized citizen of the United States. For more than six decades, Mrs. Klein has captivated audiences worldwide with her powerful messages of hope, inspiration, love and humanity.
2010
Brigadier General Oscar Bautista Hilman joined the United States Army in 1969 and retired as Deputy Commanding General, I Corps at Fort Lewis, Washington. At Fort Lewis, he was responsible for managing resources valued at over $2 billion and providing operational management for 30,700 soldiers; 7,900 civilian employees; 33,000 family members; and 50,000 retirees.
Patrick Corvington is a recognized expert on non-profit sector leadership and capacity issues, new and emerging philanthropy, and volunteerism. Mr. Corvington was sworn in as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) on February 18, 2010.
Dr. Rangita de Silva de Alwis has worked with a vast network of civil society and government organizations to develop innovative women’s rights and human rights initiatives around the world including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Mexico, Georgia, Russia and Egypt. Her work is focused on using international human rights norms to guide law reform initiatives.
During the Korean War, while Corporal Tibor "Ted" Rubin's unit was retreating to the Pusan Perimeter, Cpl. Rubin was assigned to stay behind to keep open the vital Taegu-Pusan Road link used by withdrawing American forces. During the ensuing battle, overwhelming numbers of North Korean troops assaulted a hill defended solely by Cpl. Rubin. Single-handedly for 24 hours, he fought off wave after wave of enemy soldiers.
Sgt. Ledum Ndaanee was born in Nigeria on May 2, 1982. At the age of 16, he moved to the United States with his family, settling in Richmond, VA. After attending a local community college, Sgt. Ndaanee had his heart set on serving his new country by joining the U.S. Marine Corps. He enlisted in September 2004.
Ms. Kawther Elmi began working with the National Park Service in 2000 and through her work as a Park Ranger at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, Ms. Elmi regularly speaks to visitors about Abraham Lincoln’s contributions to the United States. She credits him for the freedoms and opportunities she has been afforded and are offered to all those who are new to the United States.
The effort to build the New England Holocaust Memorial in Boston, MA began with Holocaust survivor Stephan Ross, who was imprisoned at the age of nine and whose parents, one brother and five sisters were murdered by the Nazis. Between 1940 and 1945 Mr. Ross survived 10 different concentration camps and was liberated from Dachau Camp by American troops at the age of 14.