First awarded during the 2003 Homecoming Alumni Awards Dinner and Dance, the purpose of the Academy of Excellence is to recognize those McKendree alumni who, through achievement, leadership, and character, have made exceptional contributions to the honor and prestige of McKendree in their career or public service pursuits and who have continued to demonstrate in their daily lives the values imparted through a liberal arts education.

 Recognition will be given in eight fields of endeavor as shown below.  The first four fields will be recognized in odd years and the last four will be recognized in even years.

 Odd-numbered years: Education; Humanities; Language, Literature and Communication; Mathematics, Science and Technology

 Even-numbered years:  Business; Community Service; Health Care; Social Sciences  

2003
Education:	Rev. Dr. Nathan Scarritt 1842*
	Richard Buxton ’68
	Anne Pfitzner ’92
	Dr. Marcia Popp – former faculty
Humanities:	L. Christine Brewer ’76
Language, Literature and Communication:	Milburn Peter Akers ’25
Mathematics, Science and Technology:	Dr. Benjamin Hypes 1866
	Dr. Lee Baker ’29
	Dr. Clyde Berry ’33
2004
Business:	Rebecca L. Wiley Herwick ‘81
Community Service:	Dr. Rebecca Giles Brewer ‘47
Health Care:	Dr. William Burton Gedney ‘54
Social Sciences:	Gen. Andrew J. Goodpaster ‘35
2005
Education:	Dr. Emerial Lee Owen Jr. ‘51
	Georgia Cockrum Costello ‘77
Humanities:	Rev. Dr. Arthur C. Fulbright ‘49
	Percy Lee McKinney ‘83
Language. Literature and Communication:	Jeff Trammel ‘89
Math, Science and Technology:	William Powell ‘51
2006
Health Care:	Carolyn Sitzes ’85
Business:	Nicholas I. Tropiano ’69
Community Service:	Le Roy Haynes ’71
	Steve Davis ’93
Health Care:	Carolyn Sitzes ’85
Social Sciences:	Barbara Campbell ’51
2007
Education:	Jennifer May ’90
Humanities:	Dr. Lyle C. Jensen ’66
Language. Literature and Communication:	Ptoshay "Rocki" Rockingham ’89
Math, Science and Technology:	Richard Miller ’73