The award is the highest award given by the conference and honors a retired institutional or conference affiliated individual who has made a significant contribution to the conference and has served the SUNYAC for at least 10 years. Prior to 2017, the criteria was at least 15 years.
| Year | Recipient | School |
| 1980 | Dr. Robert Weber | Cortland |
| 1981 | Dr. Sam Molnar | Potsdam |
| 1982 | Mr. Robert Riedel | Geneseo |
| 1983 | Dr. Patrick R. Damore | Fredonia |
| 1984 | Mr. Huntley Parker | Brockport |
| 1985 | Mr. Merlin Hathaway | Albany |
| 1986 | Dr. G. Hal Chase | Oneonta |
| 1987 | Dr. Daniel Mullin | Geneseo |
| 1988 | Mr. Howard MacAdam | Buffalo St. |
| 1989 | Mr. Joe Jastrab | Plattsburgh |
| 1990 | Dr. John V Glinski | Oswego |
| 1991 | Mr. Robert Kreidler | Binghamton |
| 1992 | Dr. Reuben Williams | Cortland |
| 1993 | Ms. Jessie Godfrey | Binghamton |
| 1994 | Ms. Carol A. Blazina | Oneonta |
| 1995 | Mr. Jerry Walsh | Potsdam |
| 1996 | Mr. Stephen P. Erber | Binghamton |
| 1997 | Mr. Fred Hartrick | Buffalo St |
| 1998 | Mr. Fred Taube | Cortland |
| 1999 | No Award - 40th Anniversary | |
| 2000 | Dr. John Spring | Geneseo/Oswego |
| 2001 | Dr. Dolores Bogard | Cortland |
| 2002 | Dr. Lee Roberts | Cortland |
| 2003 | Ms. Phoebe Sturm | Plattsburgh |
| 2004 | No Award - 45th Anniversary | |
| 2005 | Dr. Tom Prevet | Fredonia |
| 2006 | Ms. Jo Meadows | Oswego |
| 2007 | Mr. Peter Luguri | Plattsburgh |
| 2008 | Mr. Fred Bright | Geneseo |
| 2009 | Dr. Gail F. Maloney | Buffalo St |
| 2010 | Mr. Al Sosa | Oneonta |
| 2011 | Dr. Neil Johnson | Potsdam |
| 2012 | No Award Commissioner Retirement | |
| 2013 | Dr. Joan Sitterly | Cortland |
| 2014 | Marilyn Moore | Geneseo |
| 2015 | Linda Case | Brockport |
| 2016 | NONE | |
| 2017 | Bruce Delventhal | Plattsburgh |
| 2018 | Greg Prechtl | Fredonia |
| 2019 | Dr. Steven Perry | Oneonta |
| 2020 | Jerry Boyes | Buffalo State |
| 2021 | Tracey Ranieri | Oneonta |
| 2022 | Susan Hoffman | Brockport |
| 2023 | Mike Mooney | Geneseo |