Each year the Awards Committee solicits nominees and selects a recipient for the Faculty Council of Community Colleges Distinguished Service Award. This award recognizes the contributions of individuals who support the mission of community colleges.

with Nina Tamrowski, FCCC President
| 2024 | Yvette Roberts | SUNY Program Manager for Faculty & Staff Awards |
| 2023 | Deb Moeckel | SUNY Senior Assistant Provost for Assessment and Community College Education |
| 2021 | Gwen Kay | President, University Faculty Senate |
| 2020 | Iris Cook | Professor of Biology, Westchester Community College |
| 2018 | Tina Good | Former President, Faculty Council of Community Colleges |
| 2017 | Nancy Zimpher | Chancellor - SUNY |
| 2016 | Henrik Dullea | Trustee - SUNY Board of Trustees |
| 2015 | H. Carl McCall | Chairman - SUNY Board of Trustees |
| 2014 | Johanna Duncan-Poitier | Senior Vice-Chancellor for Community Colleges and the Education Pipeline |
| 2013 | Dustin Swanger, Ed.D. | President - Fulton-Montgomery Community College |
| 2012 | Stacey Hengsterman | Assistant Vice Chancellor for Government Relations |
| 2011 | Kenneth P. LaValle | New York State Senator, District 1 and Chair, Higher Education Committee |
| 2010 | Robert Jubenville | Dean of Health and Life Sciences - Mohawk Valley Community College (Former FCCC Delegate) |
| 2009 | Dr. Shirley Pippens | Former President - Suffolk County Community College |
| 2008 | Edward Cox, Esq. | Trustee - SUNY Board of Trustees |
| 2007 | Stuart Steiner | President - Genesee Community College |
| 2006 | George Anker | SUNY System Administration |
| 2005 | Thomas Cooper | FCCC Delegate - Monroe Community College |
| 2004 | Carol Eaton | President - Clinton Community College |
| 2003 | Joe Flynn & Karen Markoe | Past-Presidents - SUNY University Faculty Senate (UFS) |
| 2002 | Patricia Stevens | Trustee - SUNY Board of Trustees |
| 2001 | David Mathis | Trustee - New York Community College Trustees (NYCCT) |
| 2000 | Robert Brown | Vice Chancellor for Community Colleges |
| 1999 | Arnold B. Gardner | Trustee - SUNY Board of Trustees |
| 1998 | D. Bruce Johnstone | Chancellor - SUNY |
| 1997 | Glenn DuBois | Director - Commuity College Office |
| 1996 | Rosalyn Udow | College Trustee - Nassau Community College |
| 1995 | William L. Vincent | President - Faculty Council of Community Colleges |
| 1994 | Sean Fanelli | President - Nassau Community College |
| 1993 | Gene M. Winter | SUNY Central Administration |
| 1992 | Joseph N. Hankin | President - Westchester Community College |
| 1991 | Phyllis Bader-Borel | SUNY Central Administration |
| 1990 | Darwin R. Wales | College Trustee - Broome Community College |
| 1989 | Cornelius V. Robbins | Associate Chancellor for Community Colleges |
| 1988 | Jerome Komisar | Acting Chancellor - SUNY |