President Obama awards Pat Summitt the Presidential Medal of Freedom
President Obama gave Summitt a friendly hug and kiss after he placed the medal around her neck.
Update 4:20 pm.
President Barack Obama has awarded Pat Summitt the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
As she was introduced, the speaker called Summitt an "unparalleled leader in collegiate sports" and said her strength and character emphasize all that's best in athletics in America.
President Obama gave Summitt a friendly hug and kiss after he placed the medal around her neck.
After the ceremony, after the President left and the honorees and audience were free to move around the room, Summitt's son, Tyler, was one of the first to congratulate her. Congressman Jimmy Duncan and Hillary Rodham Clinton also came up to talk to Summitt after the ceremony, and it looked like she even signed a few autographs.
10Sports Director Steve Phillips was at the ceremony at the White House. You can see his full reports on 10News at 5, 6, and 11, and later on WBIR.com.
Update 4:00 pm.
Pat Summitt is sitting in some elite company at the White House.
She and the other Presidential Medal of Freedom honorees are seated in the East Room of the White House as President Barack Obama says a few words about each of them.
Summitt is seated next to legendary singer Bob Dylan. Her son, Tyler, watches from the audience.
In his remarks about Summitt, the President joked about her reaction when she found out she'd been diagnosed with early- onset dementia, Alzheimers type.
"She almost punched the doctor," said the President. "Then said, do you know who you are dealing with?"
The President listed all of Summitt's amazing stats as the head coach of the Lady Vols at the University of Tennessee, and said she's still doing what she does best: teaching.
"She said the players are her best medicine," said President Obama.
The President also mentioned how Summitt's impact on women's athletics is felt in his own family, as his daughters are interested in sports.
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Tuesday Lady Vols Coach Emeritus Pat Summitt will spend a little time with another big name - the President of the United States.
The Alzheimer's Association presented Coach Summitt and son Tyler with an award last month in Washington, D.C.
Tuesday afternoon Coach Summitt will receive another honor directly from President Obama.
She's set to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
She'll be in good company. Others who have received the award include Mother Teresa and renowned physicist Stephen Hawking. In the sports world, she'll join the ranks of Bear Bryant and John Wooden.
Coach Summitt won't be alone at the White House ceremony, President Obama will also be honoring former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, astronaut and U.S. Senator John Glenn, Nobel Prize winning novelist Toni Morrison, girl scout founder Juliette Gordon Low, and singer-songwriter Bob Dylan.
The Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor awarded.
You can watch the ceremony live on WBIR.com starting at 3:25.
10News Sports Director Steve Phillips is set to attend this afternoon's ceremony.