As of 2018, the awarding of the Benton Medal is no longer part of the main Convocation ceremony.

The Benton Medal for Distinguished Public Service was created in 1967 to honor Sen. William H. Benton on the occasion of his 25th anniversary as chairman and publisher of Encyclopaedia Britannica. The Benton Medal recognized individuals who have rendered distinguished public service in the field of education.

The committee considered eligible recipients to include not only teachers but also educational administrators, museum directors, librarians, officers of learned societies, foundation executives, philanthropists, broadcasters and publishers -- that is, anyone who has contributed in a systematic and distinguished way to shaping minds and disseminating knowledge.