Former U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was honored over the weekend for her service to the public by . Giffords' alma mater awarded her the school's highest level of recognition: the Ellen Browning Scripps Medal.
The college says "her exceptional commitment to public service has strengthened " the country. Adding, Giffords is known nationwide for her consensus-building leadership in Congress, and resilience in the face of violence.
In 2011, during a mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona.
In 2013, she and her husband, former Astronaut Mark Kelly, formed . The organization encourages elected officials to stand up for solutions to prevent gun violence and protect responsible gun ownership.
After the mass shooting last week at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., saying: "In times like this, it's the ultimate affirmation to have a nation behind you. And as proud members of the Navy family, we take note of the tragic fact that this terrible attack on men and women who dedicate themselves to keeping America safe did not occur in a war overseas, but in a mass shooting here at home."
Giffords graduated from Scripps in 1993 and gave the commencement address in 2009, during which she talked about the importance of public service.
, in Claremont, Calif., was founded in 1926 by Ellen Browning Scripps and the award Giffords received has only been given out twice before.
Former Supreme Court Justice .
And in 1994, the college
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