"Everybody on this stage has touched me in a very powerful, personal way, in ways that they probably couldn't imagine," Mr Obama said in concluding the hour-long ceremony.
Mr Obama called the 2016 group a "particularly impressive class".
Other honourees:
- Richard Garwin, inventor and polymath physicist who made pioneering contributions to the nation's defence
- Frank Gehry, one of the world's leading architects
- Margaret H. Hamilton, a mathematician and computer scientist
- Maya Lin, the designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- Lorne Michaels, producer of Saturday Night Live
- Newton Minow, a former Federal Communications Commission chairman devoted to numerous public and charitable causes
- Eduardo Padron, president of Miami Dade College
In the film world, Mr Obama honoured Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Robert Redford and Cicely Tyson.
Basketballers Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were also among the honourees. Mr Obama noted how Jordan's name is synonymous with excellence.
"There is a reason you call somebody 'the Michael Jordan of'," Mr Obama said.
"The Michael Jordan of neurosurgery, or the Michael Jordan of rabbis, or the Michael Jordan of outrigger canoeing. Everyone knows what you're talking about."Bruce Springsteen and Diana Ross were recognised for their music.
Mr Obama said Springsteen crafted "anthems of our America, the reality of who we are and the reverie of who we want to be".
Other honourees included philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates and broadcaster Vin Scully.
The
diverse group seemed to enjoy themselves at the White House,
participating in a mannequin challenge before the ceremony.
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