The Presidential Medallion is the university’s top honor, awarded to those who have brought honor and distinction to the campus.

2019

Jane Harman
John Brooks Slaughter

2018

Wanda Austin
Viet Thanh Nguyen

2017

Mark S. Humayun

2016

Manuel Castells

2015

Percival Everett
Roberta G. Williams

2014

Arieh Warshel

2013

Verna B. Dauterive
Inderbir Singh Gill

2012

Caleb E. Finch
Ray R. Irani

2011

Kathryn Brunkow Sample
Steven B. Sample

2010

George Lucas

2009

Stanley P. Gold

2008

Vaughn A. Starnes
Michael Waterman

2007

Katherine Bogdanovich Loker
Herbert Schorr

2006

Lloyd Armstrong, Jr.

2005

Donald G. Skinner
Kevin Starr

2004

Kenneth Leventhal
Florence A. Clark

2003

John C. Argue (posthumously)
William McClure

2002

Simon Ramo
Virginia Ramo

2001

Malcolm R. Currie
Warren Bennis

2000

George A. Bekey
Leslie Bernstein

1999

Brian E. Henderson
Barbara Solomon

1997

Forrest N. Shumway
Raul Sotelo Vargas

1996

Carl M. Franklin
Carolyn Craig Franklin (posthumously)

1995

George A. Olah

1994

Leo Braudy
Alexandra M. Levine

1993

Cornelius J. Pings

1991

Robert L. Mannes

1990

George T. Scharffenberger

1989

William G. Spitzer

1988

Carl E. Hartnack

1987

Norman M. Topping

1986

Sidney W. Benson

1985

Solomon W. Golomb

1983

Charles Heidelberger (posthumously)
Zohrab A. Kaprielian (posthumously)