2008 David Oliver Relin, co-author of the bestselling and award-winning book, Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time.

2007 Rex Ziak, a well known historian, author/publisher, explorer, anthropologist, photographer/cinematographer, and conservationist

2006 Taylor Morrison, Author/Illustrator received a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature. His newest book, Wildfire (Spring 2006, Houghton Mifflin Walter Lorraine Books), was selected by judges as an honor book in the non-fiction category.

2005 Ann Moore, author of Gracelin O’Malley, Leaving Ireland, and ‘Til Morning Light, a recent trilogy of historical novels highlighting life in Ireland and America during the middle of the nineteenth century.

2004 Paul Linnman, Oregon's own television and readio personality. Author of The Exploding Whale and Oregon Golf.

2003 Mike Rich, Oregon's own Hollywood writer and local radio personality, screenwriter of "Find Forrester", "The Rookie", and "Radio".

2002 Jean Auel, Author of The Clan of the Cave Bear, The Valley of Horses, The Mammoth Hunters, The Plains of Passage and  The Chelters of Stone.