List of honors received by Maya Angelou
Year Honor Notes
1970 Chubb Fellowship Given by Yale University , provides the recipient with an opportunity to make a public address open to the Yale and New Haven communities , as well as a meal , reception , or seminar with groups of students and faculty
1971 Coretta Scott King Award Given to African-American authors and illustrators of books for children and young people
1972 Pulitzer Prize nomination For Angelou 's first book of poetry , Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie
1973 Tony Award nomination For her role in the Broadway play Look Away
1975-76 Member , American Revolution Bicentennial Council Appointed by President Gerald Ford ; The council developed and planned activities and events celebrating the 200th anniversary of the American Revolution
1975 Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center Resident Competitive residency program at the foundation 's property in Bellagio , Italy , where scholars and artists from all over the world work on projects of their own choosing for a period of four weeks
1976 Ladies ' Home Journal Woman of the Year in Communication Award Yearly award given by the magazine
1977 Member , Presidential Commission for International Women 's Year Appointed by President Jimmy Carter , the commission was established to make recommendations to end barriers to women 's equality in the U.S
1981 Reynold 's Professor of American Studies , Wake Forest University Lifetime appointment
1983 Ladies ' Home Journal Top 100 Most Influential Women Yearly award given by the magazine
1983 Matrix Award Given by the New York Association for Women in Communications to women who excel in the field of communication
1984 Member , North Carolina Arts Council Committee that gives recommendations to the state 's art counsel , especially its policies regarding the arts
1986 Fulbright Program 40th Anniversary Distinguished Lecturer Recognition by the U.S. Department of State for African Americans who have contributed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries
1987 North Carolina Award in Literature Highest honor bestowed by North Carolina ; recognizes residents for contributions in scholarship , research , the fine arts , and public leadership
1990 Golden Plate Award , Academy of Achievement Given for accomplishments in the sciences , business , industry , arts , literature , sports , entertainment , and public service
1990 Candace Award , National Coalition of 100 Black Women Given to African-American women for leadership and achievement
1991 Langston Hughes Medal Awarded to African-American writers who explore their cultural heritage
1992 Horatio Alger Award Yearly award to those who have overcome adversity and made significant contributions in their fields
1992 Distinguished Woman of North Carolina award Given by the North Carolina Council for Women to women who make major contributions in the arts , business , education , government , recreation , or volunteerism
1992 Crystal Award Honors women who have helped expand the role of women in entertainment
Awards
African-American writer and poet Maya Angelou (1928-2014) was honored by universities, literary organizations, government agencies, and special interest groups. Her honors include a Pulitzer Prize nomination for her book of poetry Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie, a Tony Award nomination for her role in the 1973 play Look Away, and five Grammys for her spoken albums. Beginning in 1982, Angelou held the first lifetime Reynolds Professorship of American Studies at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She served on two presidential committees - for Gerald Ford in 1975 and for Jimmy Carter in 1977. In 2000, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton. In 2010, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S., by President Barack Obama. More than thirty health care and medical facilities have been named after Angelou. She was awarded more than fifty honorary degrees. Rollins College, a liberal arts institution in Winter Park, Florida, honored Angelou in several ways, including numerous invitations to speak to its student body, an honorary degree in 1985, the institution of the Maya Angelou Resource Library in 1989, and a stone dedicated to her on the campus's Walk of Fame in 1994.