A. Hamid Andalib was recently awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, one of the nation’s most prestigious recognitions celebrating the contributions of immigrants and other Americans who have made a lasting impact on the country through professional achievement, community service and patriotism.
Andalib says two close friends nominated him based on his business accomplishments and decades of civic leadership.
He says he never expected to receive the honor, noting that past recipients have included presidents, Supreme Court justices, military leaders and cultural icons.
The medal was presented at Ellis Island in New York, a setting Hamid describes as profoundly moving. Walking the halls where generations of immigrants first entered America, he says he was overwhelmed with gratitude at being counted among the honorees.
Rather than viewing the recognition as a personal achievement, Hamid dedicated it to the service members who defended the nation’s freedoms and to the country that welcomed him as a 17-year-old immigrant from Iran.
The honor left him speechless.
“Now the least I can do is give back to this great country of ours,” he says.
For Hamid, the medal affirms a philosophy he’s tried to live throughout his career: success is meaningful only when it’s paired with service to others.