Mediacom Communications founder, chairman and CEO Rocco Commisso was one of 38 people honored on July 4 as a Carnegie Corp. “Great Immigrant, Great American” an annual program that highlights the contributions made to American culture by naturalized citizens.

Commisso, who came to the U.S. from Calabria, Italy, when he was 12 years old, founded Mediacom in 1995 and grew it into the fifth largest cable company in the country. A graduate of Columbia University, Commisso has given extensively to educational and other concerns.