| 2021 - No Speaker - Virtual Ceremony (Due to COVID-19) |
| 2020 - No Speaker - No Ceremony (Due to COVID-19) |
| 2019 - Mary Fuhrman '95, Senior Regional Vice President, Northern Region, Hy-Vee; Eagan, MN |
| 2018 - Steve Binder '79, Executive Vice President & President of Hormel Business Units; Austin, MN |
| 2017 - Dene Thomas '78, President of Fort Lewis College; Durango, CO |
| 2016 - Michael Walker '98, Director of Black Male Student Achievement for Minneapolis schools; Minneapolis, MN |
| 2015 - David Werpy '79, Vice President and General Auditor for 3M Corporate Auditing; Minneapolis, MN |
| 2014 - Christy Brusven '02, Attorney for Fredrikson & Byon; Minneapolis, MN |
| 2013 - Rassoul Dastmozd '83, President of Saint Paul College; Saint Paul, MN |
| 2012 - Thomas Jackson '85, Vice President for Student Affairs - University of Louisville; Louisville, KY |
| 2011 - Krishna Shah '97, General Manager for Formation Carpets; Kaphmandu, Nepal |
| 2010 - Carl Harris '76, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy & Strategic initiatives, US Dept. of Education |
| 2009 - Richard L. Jones '73, Middle School Principal at Rochester Public Schools; Rochester, MN |
| 2008 - Michael Springman '73, Vice President & Chief Information officer, Northrop Gumman Mission Systems; Reston, VA |
| 2007 - Jon Welfald, President-Kansas State University; Manhattan, KS |
| 2006 - LaKeesha Ransom '95, Senior Project Manager, Best Buy Products |
| 2005 - John Schatzlien '71, Consultant Minnesota Department of Health |
| 2004 - Russ Stanton '74, Director of Governmental Relations for Inter Faculty Organization; Edina, MN |
| 2003 - Julie Bleyhl '84, Educator and Legislative Director; Madison, MN |
| 2002 - Barton Sutter '72, Renowned author and writer; Duluth, MN |
| 2001 - Beth Kirkpatrick '73, Educator & Motivational Speaker; Grundy Center, IA |
| 2001 (Winter) - Catharine L. Cowan, Professor of Psychology; Marshall, MN |
| 2000 - Isiah Whitlock, Jr. '76, Professional Actor; New York City, NY |
| 2000 (Winter) - Ruth Thompson, Assistant Professor of English; Marshall, MN |
| 1999 - Wendy J. Wild '88, Coordinator Day Treatment Program, Minneapolic Public Schools & Consultant for Player Development Program, Minnesota Vikings Football Club; Burnsville, MN |
| 1999 (Winter) - Michael Kopp, Professor of History; Marshall, MN |
| 1998 - Dorene E. Kronke '73, Vice President for Strategic Alliances; Montvale, NJ |
| 1998 (Winter) - Joland Mohr, Professor of Education; Marshall, MN |
| 1997 - Christopher J. Theobald '86, Asst. Basketball Coach, James Madison University; Harrisonburg, VA |
| 1997 (Winter) - Hugh Curtler, Professor of Philosophy; Marshall, MN |
| 1996 - Steven E. Titus '87, Director of Judicial Affairs and Upper Class Area Coordinator, University of Virginia; Charlottesville, VA |
| 1996 (Winter) - Edward Carberry, Professor of Chemistry; Marshall, MN |
| 1995 - B. Duane Dombek '71, Senior Research Scientist, Union Carbide Corporation; South Charleston, WV |
| 1994 - Clarence Hightower '77, President, The City Inc.; Minneapolis, MN |
| 1993 - Doug Tersteeg, Director, Zytec Corporation; Redwood Falls, MN |
| 1992 - Joseph P. Rossillon, Executive Assistant to the President, Sheldon Jackson College; Sitka, AK |
| 1991 - Robert L. Carothers, Chancellor, Minnesota State University System; St. Paul, MN |
| 1990 - Terrence Fogarty '82, Artist, Owner of The Gallery of Sportsart; St. Paul, MN |
| 1989 - Michael O'Keefe, Executive Vice President, The McKnight Foundation; Minneapolis, MN |
| 1988 - Jerry Owens, President, Lakewood Community College; White Bear Lake, MN |
| 1987 - John McCune, Acting President 1986-87, Southwest State University, Marshall, MN |
| 1986 - |
| 1985 - Annette Atkins '72, Assistant Professor of History, St. Johns University; Collegeville, MN |
| 1984 - Robert L. Carothers, President, Southwest State University; Marshall, MN |
| 1983 - Robert L. Carothers, President, Southwest State University; Marshall, MN |
| 1982 - Margaret Preska, President, Mankato State University; Mankato, MN |
| 1981 - Warren Spannaus, Attorney General, State of Minnesota |
| 1980 - Wendell Anderson, Governor, State of Minnesota 1971-1977, United States Senator, 1977-79 |
| 1979 - |
| 1978 - Rosalie E. Wahl, Minnesota Supreme Court Justice |
| 1977 - |
| 1976 - John Schatzlein '71, Alumnus |
| 1975 - Mary T. Phillips, Minnesota State College Board |
| 1974 - Wendell R. Anderson, Governor for the State of Minnesota |
| 1973 - Carol Heen '71, Alumna |
| 1972 - Howard A. Bellows, President, Southwest Minnesota College |
| 1971 - Howard A. Bellows, President, Southwest Minnesota College |