Simon Cho (left) and Kang Suk-hee

Short track speed skater Simon Cho and Irvine Mayor Kang Suk-hee have been included on the Carnegie Corporation's annual "Immigrants: The Pride of America" list honoring exemplary immigrants to the U.S.

According to the Carnegie Corporation, Cho (18) immigrated to America illegally in 1996 with his father when he was just four years old, and after working hard in the country his family acquired permanent residency in 2001 and citizenship in 2004. Cho realized the American Dream this year by winning the bronze medal in the men's 5,000 m relay at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Kang (56) became the first Korean-born mayor of an American town through a direct election in 2004. Irvine is a mid-sized town in Orange County, California.

The Carnegie Corporation was established in honor of Andrew Carnegie, who immigrated to the U.S. from Scotland. Since 2006, it has selected successful immigrants to the U.S. each year and featured their names and stories in the New York Times.