Criteria for the award:
1. Must be a senior in athletic eligibility
2. Most outstanding combination of academic and athletic achievement
3. Must have a 3.30 Cumulative Grade Point Average through the spring semester
4. An athlete at any SUNYAC full member institution 

The men's award is named after the late Dr. Sam Molnar, who was the Director of Athletics at Potsdam for over thirty years. He also coached various sports during this period. He served as SUNYAC President during the 1962-63 and 1963-64 years.

The women's award is named after Dr. Dolores Bogard, who was an administrator and coach at Cortland for over twenty years. She served as SUNYAC President during the 1987-88 year.

First year awarded
^ Changed Name to Dr. Sam Molnar Award
# Changed Name to Dr. Dolores Bogard Award
$ Awarded in June for that academic year (previously was award for past academic year)