Public Service Excellence Awards

Each year SAPA hosts the Public Service Excellence Awards recognizing outstanding individuals and teams in state government, local government, or not-for-profits who exemplify the best of public service in New York State. Nominations go through a rigorous selection process resulting in awards recipients who have demonstrated remarkable dedication to public service and extraordinary impact on those they serve.

Each year the stature of this award program expands, and we have a remarkable alumni of previous award recipients.

Nelson A. Rockefeller Award Recipients
Distinguished Public Servants

  • 2025 Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli
  • 2024 Governor Kathy Hochul
  • 2019 Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins
  • 2017 Congressman Paul Tonko
  • 2014 Nancy L. Zimpher
  • 2008 Richard P. Nathan
  • 2001 Richard P. Mills
  • 2000 Thomas A. Constantine
  • 1999 George C. Sinnott
  • 1998 Judith S. Kaye
  • 1997 H. Carl McCall
  • 1996 Warren M. Anderson
  • 1995 Alton G. Marshall
  • 1994 John C. Egan
  • 1993 Thomas M. Whalen III
  • 1992 Robert J. Morgado
  • 1991 Peter C. Goldmark Jr.
  • 1990 Dr. Henrik N. Dullea
  • 1989 William Hennessy
  • 1988 Richard Wiebe
  • 1987 Francis Bergan
  • 1986 James Biggane
  • 1985 Dr. David Axelrod
  • 1984 Malcolm Wilson
  • 1983 Erastus Corning II
  • 1982 Dr. Howard Miller
  • 1981 Dr. T. Norman Hurd
  • 1980 Arthur Levitt

Public Service Excellence Award Recipients

Click on each year for a listing of distinguished recipients.