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
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
2024 – Melissa Wade, Emory University
2025 – Judy Woodring, Western Kentucky University
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