Presented annually during the National Legislative Summit, this award honors a national leader who has made extraordinary contributions to national public policies and resources that support education, training and post-secondary learning.
2023 Rep. Rosa DeLauro D-CT
2022 Rep. Richard Neal D-MA
2020 Sen. Richard Durbin D-IL, Sen. Mike Lee R-UT, and Sen. Brian Schatz D-HI
2019 Sen. Tim Kaine D-VA and Sen. Rob Portman R-OH
2018 Senator Thad Cochran R-MS
2017 Senator Roy Blunt R-MO
2016 Rep. John Kline R-MN and Rep. Ruben Hinojosa D-TX
2015 Senator Al Franken D-MN
2014 Rep. Diane Black R-TN and Rep. Danny Davis D-IL
2013 Senator Patty Murray D-WA
2012 Senator Tom Harkin D-IA
2011 Sen. Max Baucus, D-MT and Rep. Michael Castle, R-DE
2010 President Barack Obama
2009 Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-MD
2008 Rep. George Miller, D-CA
2007 Sen. Michael Enzi, R-WY
2006 Representative Ric Keller, R-FL
2005 Senator Olympia J. Snowe, D-MA
2003 Rep. Dave Camp, R-MI and Rep. James P. McGovern, D-MA
2002 Rep. Ralph Regula, R-OH
2001 Rep. David Obey, D-WI
2000 Rep. John E. Peterson, R-PA
1999 Rep. “Buck” McKeon, R-CA
1998 Senator Lauch Faircloth, R-NC
1997 Rep. John Edward Porter, R-IL
1996 Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley and Rep. Clay Shaw, R-FL
1995 Senator John Warner, R-VA
1994 Rep. Esteban Torres, D-CA
1993 Senator Barbara Mikulski, D-MD
1992 Senator Mark O. Hatfield, R-OR
1991 Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-WV
1990 Rep. E. Thomas Coleman, R-MO
1989 Rep. Silvio O. Conte, R-MA
1988 Rep. William H. Gray, III, D-PA
1987 Rep. William H. Natcher, D-KY
1986 Senator Charles E. Grassley, R-IA
1985 Rep. G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery, D-MS