This award was first presented as part of the 30 year anniversary of the founding of Cook College. Each department of the college was asked to nominate outstanding graduates of their advanced degree programs and awards were presented in each discipline. Awards in subsequent years will be limited in number.

2003 - Inaugural year

• Animal Science: H. Allen Tucker, M.S. 1960 and Ph.D. 1963
• Bioresource Engineering: Ajit K. Srivastava, M.S. 1969
• Food and Business Economics: Daniel Rossi, B.S. 1971 and M.S. 1973
• Food Science: Stacey Angela Zawel, Ph.D. 1994
• Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources: Carl Safina, M.S. 1981 and Ph.D. 1987
• Entomology: Sonny B. Ramaswamy, Ph.D. 1980
• Environmental Science: Richard T. Dewling, Ph.D. 1977
• Nutritional Science: Gilbert A. Leveille, M.S.D. 1968 and Ph.D. 1960
• Plant Biology: Dr. Richard R-C Wang, Ph.D. 1974

2005

• Environmental Science: A. Joel Kaplovsky, B.S. 1940, M.S. Ph.D.

2007

• Plant Pathology: Dr. Bruce B. Clarke, B.S. 1977, Ph.D. 1982