The awards were started in 1966 by the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association. Originally, awards were given out in several different categories each year. The individuals were honored with the title "Distinguished Alumni." Recently, the title has changed to "Alumnus of the Year," and the winners are honored at the annual Alumni Senior luncheon.
Listed alphabetically below are the individuals who have been recognized with this honor.
| Michael Alioto '66 | Daniel P. Malone '71 |
| Eric Ayers '80 | John Malone, M.D. '44 |
| Rev. Timothy Babcock '60 | David Marantette '26 |
| Arthur Barkey '41 | Larry Marantette '67 |
| Charles Batcheller '54 | William McBrearty '19 |
| Rev. David Bayne, S.J. '35 | Brian McCabe '44 |
| William Blackwell '73 | John McCabe III '38 |
| Raymond BonAnno '58 | James McDonald '57 |
| Walter Booker, Sr. '80 | Patrick McKeever '57 |
| Otis W. Brawley '77 | Richard Measelle '56 |
| Rev. Laurence Britt, S.J. '29 | Rev. Edward Miotke '16 |
| Michael Brennan '38 | James Montie, M.D. '64 |
| David Buchanan '59 | Frank Moran '36 |
| Rev. Francis Canfield, S.J. '54 | George Morris, Jr. '34 |
| Rev. Malcolm Carron, S.J. '35 | Charles Muer, Sr. '55 |
| Hon. Michael Cavanagh '58 | Germano Mularoni '47 |
| Conrad Chapman '51 | Rev. Joseph Mulligan, S.J. '61 |
| James Conlan, Sr. '33 | James O'Hara '43 |
| Thomas Conlan '30 | Thomas O'Keefe '64 |
| William Cooney '31 | William Oldani, Sr. '30 |
| Br. Guy Consolmagno, S.J. '70 | Edward Parks '57 |
| Thomas Coyne '62 | Michael Parks '61 |
| James Curran '62 | Thomas Payne '47 |
| Robert Delonis '70 | Rev. Douglas Pearl, S.J. '22 |
| John Desmond '63 | Rev. Jerome Petz, S.J. '33 |
| Terence Desmond '59 | Cass Pieronek '40 |
| J. Maurice DesRosiers '55 | Mitchell Pieronek '42 |
| Daniel Devine, Sr. '52 | Richard Pieronek '44 |
| James Dingeman '34 | Val Pieronek '35 |
| David J. Doherty '54 | Bernard Powell '30 |
| Lawrence DuMouchelle '52 | Michael Porter '71 |
| Thomas D. Eckert '66 | George Reno '40 |
| Charles Fellrath '25 | Ronald Rice '90 |
| Norman Fredericks, Sr. '31 | Donald Sarin '53 |
| Edmund Gallagher '33 | Paul Schafer '28 |
| John Gregg '74 | Carl Schmidt, Jr. '37 |
| Francis M. M. Hally '31 | Richard Schroeter '33 |
| Edward Harrigan '22 | Rev. John Schwarz, S.J. '39 |
| Arthur Hull Hayes '22 | Edward Shumaker '31 |
| Rev. Msgr. Edward Hickey '11 | Rev. Eugene Simon, S.J. '43 |
| Melvin Hollowell, Jr. '77 | Tolbert Small '59 |
| Mario Iacobelli '56 | W. Joseph Starrs '26 |
| David Jansen '73 | Rev. Celestine Steiner, S.J. '16 |
| Jeffrey Jorissen '63 | Rudolph Stonisch, Jr. '48 |
| Lawrence Joseph '66 | Robert Storen '58 |
| Thomas Kavanagh '34 | Rev. Eugene Sweeney '30 |
| Howard Keating, Jr. '38 | Philip Tannian '53 |
| Terrence Keating '56 | Richard Tarnas '68 |
| Daniel J. Kelly '53 | Michael Tenbusch '87 |
| Richard Krajenke '40 | Paul Teranes '54 |
| William Kovacic '70 | James Thompson, Jr. '55 |
| Edward Kronk '64 | Michael Timmis '57 |
| John Kruse '44 | Rev. Ronald F. Torina, S.J. '65 |
| Elmore Leonard '43 | Daniel Varner '87 |
| Michael Leonatti '54 | Andrew Valenti '44 |
| Raymond Leveque '18 | Lawrence Wisne '66 |
| Rev. Marshall Lochbiler, S.J. '14 | Vernon Witkowski '37 |
| Paul Louisell '67 | Robert Witt '43 |
| Rev. Arthur Loveley, S.J. '31 | Milford Woodbeck '29 |
| Msgr. Hubert Maino '23 | Michael G. Workings, M.D. '77 |