Malala Yousafzai, the child rights activist and youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, received the U.S. Liberty Medal October 22 and pledged her $100,000 award to education in her homeland Pakistan.
The National Constitution Center, which awards the annual distinction, said Yousafzai was awarded the prize for her "courage and resilience in the face of adversity."
The 17-year-old gave a speech outlining her desire to see 57 million out-of-school children given the right to an education.
Malala, who currently lives in Britain, rose to prominence in Pakistan by campaigning for girls' right to education.
In October 2012, she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman and seriously injured.
She won the Nobel Peace Prize October 12 together with Kailash Satyarthi, an Indian children's rights activist.
Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP