List of awards and honors received by Sandra Day O'Connor facts for kids

Sandra Day O'Connor was an important American judge. She made history as the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. President Ronald Reagan chose her for this role in 1981. She worked as a justice until she retired in 2006.

Places Named After Sandra Day O'Connor

Many places have been named to honor Sandra Day O'Connor, showing her lasting impact.

Schools Honoring Sandra Day O'Connor

• Sandra Day O’Connor High School is a public high school in Helotes, Texas.
• Austin High School in El Paso, Texas, has a special program called the Sandra Day O'Connor Criminal Justice/Public Service Academy.
• Another Sandra Day O'Connor High School is located in North Phoenix, Arizona.
• Sandra Day O’Connor Elementary School is in Arizona's Mesa school district.

Buildings and Landmarks

• The federal courthouse in Phoenix, Arizona, built in 2000, is named in her honor.
• In 2004, the courtroom of a historical courthouse in Redwood City, California, was dedicated to O'Connor. This building is now a museum.
• On April 5, 2006, Arizona State University renamed its law school the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law.
• 

  O'Connor's house was moved from Paradise Valley, Ariz., to Tempe's Papago Park.
• In 2009, Justice O'Connor's house was moved from Paradise Valley to Papago Park in Tempe, Arizona. This house was built in 1959 and is considered a historic landmark.
• In 2019, Justice O'Connor's house was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which lists important historical sites.

Special Events and Parades

• On January 2, 2006, she was the Grand Marshal for the 117th annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. She also started the 92nd annual Rose Bowl Game with a coin toss.

Hall of Fame Inductions

Sandra Day O'Connor has been recognized in several halls of fame for her achievements.

• In 1995, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.
• In 2001, she joined the Hall of Great Westerners at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
• In 2002, O'Connor was inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Fort Worth.
• In 2008, she was inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in Denton, Texas.
• On March 21, 2014, she was inducted into the San Mateo County Women's Hall of Fame.

Honorary Degrees and Academic Honors

Universities and academic groups have given Sandra Day O'Connor special honors.

• On May 22, 2006, Yale University gave O'Connor an honorary doctoral degree.
• On September 19, 2006, she spoke at the dedication of the Elon University School of Law and received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
• In 2007, she became a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
• On April 9, 2013, she received an honorary doctorate from Eureka College, which was President Ronald Reagan's alma mater.
• On March 24, 2014, she was given a Doctor of Humane Letters by The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.

Other Awards and Special Recognitions

Sandra Day O'Connor received many awards for her public service and leadership.

• In 1985, she received the Elizabeth Blackwell Award for her "outstanding service to humankind."
• In 1987, O'Connor received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
• In 1998, O'Connor was given the Mary Harriman Community Leadership award for her work supporting education and reforming laws to be fairer for women. She was also a former president of the Junior League of Phoenix.
• On July 4, 2003, the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia gave O'Connor the Liberty Medal. In her speech, she talked about how important it is for citizens to understand their rights and freedoms.
• In 2005, she received the Sylvanus Thayer Award from the United States Military Academy for her commitment to "Duty, Honor, Country."
• In 2007, O'Connor was named a Gold Medal Honoree by the National Institute of Social Sciences.
• In 2008, O'Connor became an honorary member of Phi Beta Kappa at the College of William and Mary.
• On March 26, 2008, O'Connor received the Harry F. Byrd Jr. '35 Public Service Award from the Virginia Military Institute.
• On September 22, 2008, she received the 2008 Franklin Award for her dedication to public service.
• On August 12, 2009, Justice O'Connor was given the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. This is one of the highest civilian awards in the United States.
• In October 2011, Justice Day O'Connor received the Brigham-Kanner Property Rights Prize.
• In 2013, a painting featuring O'Connor and other female Supreme Court Justices (Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Elena Kagan) was shown at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery.
• Arizona governor Doug Ducey declared September 25, 2018, as Sandra Day O’Connor Day in Arizona.