Spirit Of Excellence
We empower youth to overcome adversity through education.
Spirit of Excellence Award Recipients
The Spirit of Excellence Award is presented to individuals in the community who exemplify an active voluntary commitment to education, human/community service, and leadership. Previous recipients include:
| 2020 | Theresa Feller, Lincoln Foundation |
| 2019 | Dr. F. Bruce Williams, Senior Pastor of Bates Memorial Baptist Church |
| 2018 | Amy & Steve Trager, Community Volunteer and Chairman and CEO of Republic Bank |
| 2017 | Cathe Dykstra, Chief Possibility Officer and President & CEO of Family Scholar House |
| 2016 | Diane L.Porter, community leader, retired educator, and member of Jefferson County Board of Education |
| 2015 | Christina Lee Brown, philanthropist and co-founder of Festival of Faiths and Institute for Healthy Air, Water and Soil |
| 2014 | Robert and Deborah Blair, founders of the West End School |
| 2013 | Kathy Cooksie Neal, President of The Kentucky Minority Scholarship Fund, and Gerald Neal, Attorney and Kentucky State Senator |
| 2012 | Louisville Metro Mayor Greg Fischer |
| 2011 | Mary Gwen Wheeler, Interim Director of 55,000 Degrees and Mayor Jerry Abramson’s Senior Advisor on Education. |
| 2010 | Lonnie and Muhammad Ali, Centennial Spirit of Excellence Award George Unseld, Metro Councilman, Spirit of Excellence Award (posthumously) |
| 2009 | Laura Douglas, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility and Community Affairs, E.ON U.S. |
| 2008 | Adewale Troutman, MD, MPH, MA, Director of Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness, and Associate Professor at the University of Louisville School of Public Health |
| 2007 | Brenda G. Hart, Engineering Education Director, and Director of Student Affairs, University of Louisville Speed Scientific School |
| 2006 | Dr. Kevin W. Cosby, Senior Pastor St. Stephen Church and President, Simmons College of Kentucky |
| 2004 | Hank Wagner Retired President/CEO, Jewish Hospital Healthcare Services |
| 2003 | Alice K. Houston and Wade Houston Entrepreneurs |
| 2002 | Harriet B. Porter and Woodford R. Porter, Sr. Retired Entrepreneurs |
| 2001 | Lee B. Thomas, Jr. Universal Woods Inc. |
| 2000 | Dr. Samuel Robinson President Emeritus, Lincoln Foundation |
| 1999 | Barbara S. Miller, Retired Librarian and Civic Leader Michael N. Harreld, Regional President, PNC Bank of Kentucky |
| 1998 | Ed Hamilton, Nationally Renowned Artist/Sculptor |
| 1997 | Bettie and Charlie Johnson, Entrepreneurs and Philanthropists Owsley Brown Frazier, Retired Vice Chairman, Brown-Forman Corporation |
| 1996 | George King, Entrepreneur |
| 1995 | Sharon Porter Robinson, President, Educational Policy and Leadership Institute – Education Testing Service |