The James W. Schwartz Award is the highest honor conferred by the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication. It is awarded in honor of James Schwartz, former department chair of the school. The school’s Advisory Council, faculty and staff nominate candidates, and faculty and staff members select the winner.
- 2024: Steve Coon
- 2023: Alan and Steve Mores
- 2022: James Thomas (Tom) Emmerson
- 2021: Debra Solberg Gibson
- 2020: Rick Phillips
- 2019: Kim Guthrie
- 2018: William F. “Bill” Tubbs
- 2017: Gene and Margy Chamberlin
- 2016: Dean Borg
- 2015: Bob and Diane Greenlee
- 2014: William F. Kunerth
- 2013: Barbara Mack
- 2012: Barbara Iverson
- 2011: John Arends
- 2010: David Kurns
- 2009: Christine Romans
- 2008: Everett M. Rogers
- 2007: Richard Doak
- 2006: Patricia Dean
- 2005: Wayne P. Davis
- 2004: Karol Nickell
- 2003: Bill Monroe
- 2002: James E. Grunig
- 2001: Louis M. Thompson, Jr.
- 2000: Christopher Adams
- 1999: Herbert Plambeck
- 1998: Merrill Oster
- 1997: Ann K. Cooper
- 1996: James F. Evans
- 1995: Ralph W. Anderson
- 1994: Mollie Cooney (Smith)
- 1994: Kevin Cooney
- 1993: John D. (Jack) Shelley
- 1992: John Madson
- 1991: Geneva Overholser
- 1990: Donald L. Arends
- 1989: Robert E. Kowalski
- 1988: Leo Mores
- 1987: Terry Anderson
- 1987: William E. Ames
- 1986: Roy Reiman
- 1985: Thomas J. Knudson
- 1984: Ruth Ellen Church (Lovrien)
- 1983: Frank Byrnes
- 1982: Don Muhm
- 1981: Lauren Soth
- 1980: Robert L. Bartley
- 1979: Don Jackson
- 1977: Hugh Sidey