- 1985—Mike Mannerino & Alice McDonald
- 1986—Richard Durlauf
- 1987—Norman Lewis & Lucille Baker
- 1988—Ella Mae Read & Lila Bellando
- 1989—W. Carlyle Maupin & Charlie Stone
- 1990—Robert Grover & Jody Richards
- 1991—Willis Bradley & James Burch
- 1992—Lee Suman
- 1993—Mel Owen
- 1994—Kentucky Educational Television & Sue Gilvin
- 1995—Linda Young
- 1996—Carolyn Fern
- 1997—Toyota Corporation
- 1998—Stuart Silberman
- 1999—Gene Wilhoit & Col. John Jameson, Jr.
- 2000—Keith Shoulders
- 2001—Billie Jean Osborn
- 2002—Kerry Davis & Spottsville Elementary School
- 2003—Carroll Hall
- 2004—Toni Sheffer
- 2005—Tony Lindsey
- 2006—no award
- 2007—Stephen Foster Music Club
- 2008—W. Paul and Lucille Caudill Little Foundation
- 2009—River Park Center, Hardin County Performing Arts Center, and Pi Kappa Omicron Fraternity
- 2010—Kevin Dennison
- 2011—Bill Samuels, Jr. and Fran Taylor
- 2013—Schmidt Opera Outreach Program
- 2014—Randy Lanham
- 2015—Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra, Lexington
- 2016—Brigadier General Merwyn L. Jackson
- 2017—Greg Lyons
- 2018—George Milam
- 2019—Paul Bartel
- 2020—Ruth Tompkins
- 2022—Allen County-Scottsville Arts Council
- 2023—Tony Burdette
- 2024—Fayette County Board of Education
