Seattle soccer star Megan Rapinoe receives Presidential Medal of Freedom

OL Reign's Megan Rapinoe turned 37 this week and received a great birthday present from the White House — the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Rapinoe was one of 17 people who received the nation's highest civilian honor at a White House ceremony Thursday, July 7.

The medal is given by the president to those who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values or security of the United States, world peace or other significant endeavors.

According to the White House, Rapinoe earned the honor as an "Olympic gold medalist and two-time Women’s World Cup champion. She also captains OL Reign in the National Women’s Soccer League. She is a prominent advocate for gender pay equality, racial justice, and LGBTQI+ rights."

Rapinoe said she she was in between practices when she got the good news from the White House.

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Other recipients this year include:

Simone Biles: Most decorated American gymnast in history, and an advocate for mental health, children in the foster care system, and victims of sexual assault.

Sister Simone Campbell: A member of the Sisters of Social Service and former Executive Director of NETWORK, a Catholic social justice organization.

Julieta García: Former president of The University of Texas at Brownsville, and the first Hispanic woman to serve as a college president.

Gabrielle Giffords: Former congresswoman who was the youngest woman ever elected to the Arizona State Senate. Giffords is an advocate for gun violence prevention and is a survivor of gun violence herself.

Fred Gray: One of the first black members of the Alabama State legislature since Reconstruction. As an attorney, he represented Rosa Parks, the NAACP, and Martin Luther King.

Steve Jobs (posthumous): Co-founder and CEO of Apple, Inc. who helped usher in a new age of personal technology. If you're reading this on a smartphone, you can partially thank Steve.

Father Alexander Karloutsos: Former Vicar General of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America who provided counsel to various U.S. presidents.

Khizr Khan: A Gold Star father and founder of the Constitution Literacy and National Unity Center. Khan is an advocate for the rule of law and religious freedom.

Sandra Lindsay: New York critical care nurse who served during the Covid-19 pandemic response. Lindsay was the first American to receive a Covid-19 vaccine (outside of clinical trials).

John McCain (posthumous): Awarded the Purple Heart and gold star for his military service. Representative and senator from Arizona.

Diane Nash: Founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Nash organizes a range of civil rights campaigns, and also worked with Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movements of the 1960s.

Alan Simpson: U.S. senator from Wyoming for 18 years.

Richard Trumka (posthumous): AFL-CIO president and advocate for social and economic justice.

Wilma Vaught: Brigadier General who retired in 1985. She is one of most decorated women in the history of the U.S. military.

Denzel Washington: Award-winning actor, director, and producer.

Raúl Yzaguirre: Civil rights advocate who served as CEO and president of National Council of La Raza for 30 years.