| 1975 | unknown |
| 1976 | unknown |
| 1977 | Shelby Rooks – President, Chicago Theological Seminary |
| 1978 | Natalie Hinderas, pianist |
| 1979 | Raymond Burse |
| 1980 | James Joseph – Undersecretary, U.S. Department of Interior |
| 1981 | Nathaniel Jones – Judge, U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals |
| 1982 | Elizabeth Koontz – Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction, North Carolina |
| 1983 | Raymond Burse |
| 1984 | Norma Fletcher – Cabinet Secretary of Jefferson County Public Protection and Regulation |
| 1985 | Joseph Madison – Director, Voter Education Program, NAACP |
| 1986 | Rev. Joseph L. Roberts – Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta |
| 1987 | Dr. William C. Parker – Vice Chancellor for Minority Affairs, University of Kentucky |
| 1988 | Juan Williams |
| 1989 | Jesse Jackson, Jr. |
| 1990 | Dr. Samuel D. Proctor – Baptist minister, educator, writer |
| 1991 | Dr. Betty Griffin |
| 1992 | unknown |
| 1993 | Roberta Harding – Professor, University of Kentucky Law School |
| 1994 | Program by various Centre College individuals and groups |
| 1995 | Rev. Arthur Smith |
| 1996 | Martin Luther King III |
| 1997 | Harold Fenderson – Principal, Central High School Magnet Academy, Louisville |
| 1998 | Poetry by Centre College students; First Baptist Church (Danville) Men’s Choir |
| 1999 | John Horhn – Senator, Mississippi State Legislature |
| 2000 | Sonia Sanchez, poet |
| 2001 | “A Bus Ride With Mrs. Rosa Parks” – performed by storyteller/artist Nana Yaa Asantewa and performing artist Elisha Akua Wimsatt and Aminata Baruti |
| 2002 | “Reflections on Peace” – program by various Centre College individuals and groups |
| 2003 | Naomi Tutu |
| 2004 | Jim Lucas |
| 2005 | “The Meeting” by Jeff Stetson |