Distinguished Service Award
- 1979 – Annabel Dunham Hagood, University of Alabama
- 1980 – Austin J. Freeley, John Carroll University
- 1981 – George Ziegelmueller, Wayne State University
- 1982 – Glen Capp, Baylor University
- 1983 – Lucy Keele, California State University-Fullerton
- 1984 – Wayne Brockreide, California State University-Fullerton
- 1985 – Malcolm Sillars, University of Utah
- 1986 – Jack Howe, California State University-Long Beach
- 1987 – Vernon McGuire, Texas Tech University
- 1988 – Donn Parson, University of Kansas
- 1989 – David Zarefsky, Northwestern University
- 1990 – Raymie McKerrow, University of Maine
- 1991 – Gerald Sanders, Miami University, OH
- 1992 – Walter Ulrich, University of Northern Iowa
- 1993 – Scott Nobles, Macalester College
- 1994 – Jerry Anderson, Concordia College, MN
- 1995 – Larry Schnoor, Mankato State University
- 1996 – Bill Balthrop, University of North Carolina
- 1997 – Rebecca Bjork, University of Utah
- 1998 – James W. Pratt, University of Wisconsin-River Falls
- 1999 – Joseph W. Wenzel, University of Illinois-Urbana
- 2000 – Jerry M. Goldberg, Pace University, New York
- 2001 – James A. “Al” Johnson, Colorado College
- 2002 – Guy Yates, West Texas A&M University
- 2003 – James F. Klumpp, University of Maryland
- 2004 – Dale Herbeck, Boston College
- 2005 – David Hingstman, University of Iowa
- 2006 – Melissa M. Wade, Emory University
- 2007 – Allan Louden, Wake Forest University
- 2008 – Bruce Manchester, George Mason University
- 2008 – Duane Fish, Northwest College
- 2009 – M’Liss Hindman, Tyler Junior College
- 2009 – Ross Smith, Wake Forest University
- 2010 – Frank Thompson, University of Alabama
- 2010 – Lee Mayfield, James Madison University
- 2010 – Leah White, Minnesota State University-Mankato
- 2011 – Daniel Cronn-Mills, Minnesota State University-Mankato
- 2012 – Jon Bruschke, California State University-Fullerton
- 2013 – award vacated
- 2014 – Richard Edwards, Baylor University
- 2015 – David Gaer, Lone Star College, University Park
- 2016 – Kellie Roberts, University of Florida
- 2017 – no award given
- 2018 –
- 2019 – Wade Hescht, Lone Star College, North Harris
- 2020 – Ed Panetta, University of Georgia
- 2021 – Cate Palczewski, University of Northern Iowa
- 2022 – Kelly Michael Young, Wayne State University
- 2023 – Matt Gerber, Baylor University
Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2018 – Frank Thompson, University of Alabama
- 2019 – JoAnne Miller, University of Mississippi
- 2020 – Larry Schnoor, Minnesota State University, Mankato
- 2021 – Mike Edmonds, Colorado College
- 2022 – Kellie Roberts, University of Florida
- 2023 – Daniel Cronn-Mills, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Distinguished Speaker of the Year
- 1979 – Henry Cisneros – Mayor, San Antonio, TX
- 1980 – Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
- 1981 -Thomas Bradley – Mayor, Los Angeles, CA
- 1982 – Joshua Everett
- 1983 – Larry Pressler – United States Senator, South Dakota
- 1984 – Paul Simon – United States Senator, Illinois
- 1985 – Richard Lamb – Governor, Colorado
- 1986 – Frank Zimring – Distinguished Law Professor
- 1987 – C. Everett Koop – Surgeon General of the United States
- 1988 – Ann Richards – Governor, Texas
- 1989 – Dianne Feinstein – Mayor, San Francisco, CA
- 1990 – Lawrence Tribe – Professor of Law, Harvard University
- 1991 – William Brennan – Justice, United States Supreme Court
- 1992 – Barbara Jordan – Professor of Law, University of Texas
- 1993 – Hilary Rodham Clinton, First Lady of the United States
- 1994 – Brian Lamb – C-Span
- 1995 – Barbara Jordan – Professor of Law, University of Texas
- 1996 – Bill Moyers – Public Broadcasting System
- 1997 – Franklyn Haiman – President, American Civil Liberties Union
- 1998 – Kofi Annan – Secretary General, United Nations
- 1999 – Columbine High School Parents – Parents campaign against violence in schools
- 2000 – Jimmy Carter – The Carter Center, Atlanta
- 2001 – Jimmy Carter – The Carter Center, Atlanta
- 2003 – Janet Reno – former Attorney General of the United States
- 2004 – Christopher Reeve – Actor and advocate for Medical Reserach
- 2005 – Nina Totenberg – National Public Radio
- 2006 – Nancy Pelosi – Congresswoman
- 2007 – Al Gore – Former Vice President
- 2008 – Paul Newman – Actor
- 2009 – Sandra Day O’Connor – Supreme Court Justice