Senior officers of the Class of 1980 at Butler Area High School established the Distinguished Graduate Award to recognize the professionals and humanitarian achievements of alumni who made their presence known in their communities and in the world.

The list includes musicians, educators, diplomats, medical doctors, designers, scientists and business leaders. The recipient is announced annually during commencement exercises.

A selection was not made by the Class of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

- Class of 1980 selected: George P. Young, Ph.D.

- Class of 1981 selected: P. Richard Rittelman

- Class of 1982 selected: Edward M. Ifft

- Class of 1983 selected: Orlando S. Pride

- Class of 1984 selected: William K. Parker, Ph.D.

- Class of 1985 selected: William L. Grecco

- Class of 1986 selected: Margaret C. Puff

- Class of 1987 selected: Thomas O. Oesterling, Ph.D.

- Class of 1988 selected: Dr. Peter E. Sheptak

- Class of 1989 selected: Dr. Dorothea R. Johnson

- Class of 1990 selected: Samuel Scarnato, Ph.D.

- Class of 1991 selected: H. Creston Doner

- Class of 1992 selected: William J. Perry, Ph.D.

- Class of 1993 selected: Daniel A. D’Aniello

- Class of 1994 selected: Dr. Earnest E. Moore, Jr.

- Class of 1995 selected: Rebecca West

- Class of 1996 selected: William Purvis

- Class of 1997 selected: William H. Dumbaugh

- Class of 1998 selected: John W. Gumpper

- Class of 1999 selected: Carl Yankowski

- Class of 2000 selected: Carmen V. Scialabba

- Class of 2001 selected: George “Mike” Kelly

- Class of 2002 selected: Vice Admiral Jonathan W. Grenert

- Class of 2003 selected: Paula J. Smith Hartley

- Class of 2004 selected: Richard A. Hoehn, Ph.D.

- Class of 2005 selected: Jim Pugh

- Class of 2006 selected: Kerry Blake Dumbaugh

- Class of 2007 selected: George P. Kiester

- Class of 2008 selected: Thomas J. Rutkoski

- Class of 2009 selected: Patrick C. Smith

- Class of 2010 selected: John E. Kosar

- Class of 2011 selected: Chester Aaron

- Class of 2012 selected: John J. Pinder, Jr.

- Class of 2013 selected: James N. Anderson

- Class of 2014 selected: John W. Connor, Ph.D.

- Class of 2015 selected: Jay T. Last, Ph.D.

- Class of 2016 selected: Douglas M. Balog

- Class of 2017 selected: Eric Klann, Ph.D.

- Class of 2018 selected: Michael J. Oesterling

- Class of 2019 selected: David J. Kenyon, Ph.D.