The Presidential Medallion is awarded annually to individuals who have brought great honor and distinction to the university community.

2023
Rick J. Caruso
USC Joint Educational Project 

2022
Robert Alan Cutietta
Daniel Aram Mazmanian
Sarah Van Orman

2021
All USC Staff, Faculty, and Healthcare Professionals

2020
Karen Symms Gallagher

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)