The spirit of California was on full display Thursday night at the 19th Annual California Hall of Fame induction ceremony.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s class of inductees featured nine legends and trailblazers throughout the Golden State.<\/p>\n
Each inductee is breaking barriers across different fields, including literature, public service, entertainment and sports.<\/p>\n
Among the honorees was Academy Award winner and self-proclaimed \u201cCali Girl\u201d Jaime Lee Curtis.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am very much a home girl, and it makes me cry,\u201d said Curtis. \u201cI want to represent California and the beautiful diversity and creativity and incredible natural beauty of California through my being here tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nine-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the greatest U.S. track-and-field athletes, Carl Lewis, was also inducted into the state\u2019s hall of fame.<\/p>\n
With California top of mind, Lewis spoke to us about his excitement ahead of the 2028 LA Olympics.<\/p>\n
\u201cLA is going to be absolutely insane. I know some people always talk about how challenging the games are, but I was in Paris and Paris was fabulous, and I think that L.A. will top it,\u201d said Lewis. \u201cI think people in Los Angeles and really all of California will have something to be proud of.\u201d<\/p>\n
The inductee ceremony takes place at the California Museum on O Street, with a key portion of the ceremony focusing on education.<\/p>\n
Each inductee is presented with a \u201cSpirit of California\u201d medal.<\/p>\n
Recipients must have lived in California for five years. Including this year\u2019s 19th class, only 183 Californians have received the California Hall of Fame honor.<\/p>\n
Governor Gavin Newsom spoke to the importance of preserving the tradition and how this class differs from years past.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re trying to do justice,\u201d said Newsom. \u201cAnd not just all celebrities, not just politicians, not just some folks that you would expect, but some that you may know nothing about. And then you start to learn about the contributions of these unsung heroes that deserve recognition.\u201d<\/p>\n
The public is encouraged to submit nominations through the California Museum website.<\/p>\n
Starting Friday, March 20, an exhibit featuring personal items and memorabilia from the 18th and 19th inductees will be open to the public.<\/p>\n
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