Background
This award was created in memory of Henry (Tom) Yost, who served as the chair of the national AAUP’s Committee on Government Relations for a number of years and then as president of the Association from 1980–81.
Eligibility
The award is given to a member of the United States House of Representatives or Senate in recognition of outstanding leadership in higher education, preferably during, but not limited to, the previous year.
Guidelines
Nominations are submitted in the form of supporting letters and biographical material. An AAUP member, chapter, or state conference can provide the primary nomination of the award. Nomination letters should discuss any examples of the candidate's strong commitment to higher education and any examples of collaboration between the candidate and the AAUP, or any other higher education organization or institution.
Send a nomination with supporting details by e-mail to the Committee on Government Relations.
Nominations are due March 8.
Recipients of the Congressional Recognition Award
| 1980 |
Representative Jack Brooks (D – TX)
Senator Abraham Ribicoff (D – CT) |
| 1981 |
Representative Carl Perkins (D – KY) |
| 1982 |
Representative Paul Simon (D – IL) |
| 1983 |
Representative William Ford (D – MI)
Senator Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. (R – CT) |
| 1984 |
Representative Jim Wright (D – TX)
Senator Robert T. Stafford (R – VT) |
| 1985 |
Representative Silvio O. Conte (R – MA)
Senator Thomas F. Eagleton (D – MO) |
| 1986 |
Representative Augustus F. Hawkins (D – CA)
Senator Daniel P. Moyniham (D – NY) |
| 1988 |
Representative William Gray (D – PA)
Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R – KS) |
| 1989 |
Representative Patricia Schroeder (D – CO)
Senator Terry Sanford (D – NC) |
| 1990 |
Representative William Natcher (D – KY)
Senator Jim Sasser (D – TN)
Special awards given to
Representative Augustus Hawkins (D – CA)
Senator Daniel P. Moynihan (D – NY) |
| 1991 |
Representative Pat Williams (D – MT) |
| 1992 |
Representative Howard Wolpe (D – MI)
Senator David Boren (D – OK) |
| 1993 |
Special award given to Senator Terry Sanford (D-NC) |
| 1994 |
Representative Robert Kastenmeier (D–WI, retired) |
| 1995 |
Representative John Lewis (D – GA)
Senator James Jeffords (R – VT) |
| 1996 |
Representative George Brown (D – CA)
Senator Olympia Snowe (R – ME) |
| 1997 |
Representative John Edward Porter (R – IL)
Senator Paul Wellstone (D – MN) |
| 1998 |
Representative Nita Lowey (D – NY)
Senator Pete Domenciri (R – NM) |
| 1999 |
Representative William Clay (D – MO) |
| 2000 |
Representative Rush Holt (D – NJ) |
| 2001 |
Representative David Obey (D – WI)
Senator Zell Miller (D – GA) |
| 2002 |
Representative Patsy Mink (D – HI) |
| 2003 |
Representative Sherwood Boehlert (R - NY) |
| 2004 |
Representative Bernie Sanders (I - VT) |
|
2005 |
Senator Susan Collins (R - ME) |
| 2006 |
Representative Betty McCollum (D-MN) |
|
2007
2010
2011 |
Senator Jack Reed (D-RI)
Representative Donald Payne (D-NJ)
Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT) |