1960-61: John Ciardi - professor of English, Rutgers University
1961-62: Selden Rodman - poet, author, and art critic
1963-64: William D. Snodgrass - Pulitzer Prize-winning poet
1964-65: Dame Alicia Markova - prima ballerina
1965-66: Herman Shulin - Broadway producer and director
1966-67: An Evening's Frost - a production featuring the works and letters of poet Robert Frost, starring Will Geer and Anne Gee Byrd, Thomas Coley, and Jack Davidson
1967-68: Benjamin Franklin - Citizen featuring the words of Benjamin Franklin, starring Fredd Wayne
1969-70: Boris Goldovsky - pianist
1971-72: William McVey - sculptor
1976-77: Fred Sherry and Charles Wuorinen - Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, cellist, and pianist
1977-78: Mitchell Stern - violinist and Robert McDonald - pianist
1978-79: Phyllis Bryn-Julson - vocalist
1996-97: William Albright - composer, organist, and pianist
2004-05: Dragan Vukadinovic - senior creative designer, Hyundai/Kia American Design Center
2005-06: Die Audio Gruppe - art group that builds performs with electro-acoustic clothes and dresses
2006-07: Richard Dresser - playwright
2007-08: Kenneth Huff - interdisciplinary visual artist working in a variety of traditional and new media
2008-09: Boys of Lough- Celtic band
2009-10: The Living Theatre Workshops
2010-11: Linden String Quartet
2011-12: Jim Clark - nature photographer
2013-14: David Gaines - writer, director, and clown
2014-15: Songwriting duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
2016-17: Kelli Anderson - "The Hidden Talents of Everyday Things: Uncovering Lo-fi Magic"
2018-19: Perry King - director and actor
2021: Chris Coles - musician and professor, creator of Nine Lives
2024: Amber Kempthorn - artist