Graduate School of Design Dean Mohsen Mostafavi lauded David Adjaye for his groundbreaking work in architecture around the world. Adjaye’s newest building is the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, which is currently under construction on the National Mall in Washington D. C. and is expected to open in 2016.

Michael D. Smith, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, introduced Harry Belafonte, highlighting his musical contributions and activism. In 1956, Belafonte became the first musical artist to sell more than one million LPs with his album, "Calypso."

“Belafonte has always used his star power to shed light on the plight of the poor, the underserved, and the underrepresented,” Smith said.

Amidst more than 30 seconds of applause, Oprah Winfrey accepted her award from University President Drew G. Faust.

“All of us share the same goal regardless of our professions or what our pathways might be,” Winfrey said. “We all want to live up to be the truest, highest expressions of ourselves as human beings.”

—Staff writer Indrani G. Das. can be reached at indrani.das@thecrimson.com. Follow her on twitter @IndraniGDas.

—Staff writer Jill E. Steinman can be reached at jill.steinman@thecrimson.com. Follow her on twitter @jillsteinman.

This article has been revised to reflect the following corrections:

CORRECTION: October 1, 2014

An earlier version of the teaser of this article misspelled the name Maya Angelou.