We empower youth to overcome adversity through education.
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 |
