The following distinguished Geography students have been awarded the Best Masters Paper Award since 2002
| Year | Recipient | Institution |
| 2002 | Scott Markwith | University of Georgia |
| 2003 | W. Jefferson West II | University of Kentucky |
| 2004 | Danny Redo | University of Southern Mississippi |
| 2005 | Sarah Schwartz | University of South Carolina |
| 2006 | Sallie Vaughn | East Carolina University |
| 2007 | Terri Moreau | East Carolina University |
| 2008 | Katherine Renken | East Carolina University |
| Ginette Wessel | University of North Carolina – Charlotte | |
| 2009 | Chris Kaase | Appalachian State University |
| 2010 | Lixin Wang | University of Georgia |
| 2012 | Linwood E. Hall | East Carolina University |
| 2013 | Thomas Patterson | University of North Carolina, Greensboro |
| 2014 | Maegen Rochner | University of Tennessee |
| 2015 | Helen Rosko | University of Tennessee |
| 2017 | Montana A. Eck | Appalachian State University |