Through its Excellence in Education program, the IPEF has recognized more than 1,000 honor students in District 204's graduating senior and eighth-grade classes, as well as more than 700 staff members who have been most influential in the students' academic lives.

The top 30 high-school students are honored at annual recognition dinners (one for each school), which are also attended by their parents/guardians and most influential staff member.

The eighth-grade honor student recognitions were discontinued in 2008.

Corporate sponsors have included MidAmerica (now National City) Bank, Village Pontiac-GMC Truck, Harris Bank, Whitt Law, LLC, and Calamos Asset Management Inc.