The Londonderry High School Athletic Leadership Council is spearheading a project to revive the LHS Hall of Fame.
Nine of the student-athletes, adviser Crystal Rich and Athletic Director Howard Sobolov spoke at the June 7 School Board meeting to present the initiative.
Rich prefaced the presentation by stating that the Council consists of nine seniors and one junior, who will be continuing next year. “This is one of the best groups we’ve had,” she said.
Sobolov said the Council has grown each year, in programs and community service. He explained that coaches and administrators nominate the student-athletes and are looking for multi-sport students who are academically successful and well-rounded, and involved in community service. He, Rich and Principal Jason Parent then cull the results and choose the nominees.
Students on the council are responsible for the Varsity Sports Banquet and have been involved in other initiatives, such as Coaches for Cancer, he said.
“Our major project this year,” he said, “was resurrecting the Hall of Fame.”
Sobolov explained that the Hall of Fame was originated in 1985, but fell dormant around 1996, when the teacher who started it retired.
Nick Donnelly, one of the seniors resurrecting the program, explained that the Hall of Fame is located in the 100 Hallway, and students walk by it every day on their way to math classes. He and his fellow Council members wanted to see it a more viable part of the Lancer community.
Erica Tsetsilas, the only junior on the council, said, “We wanted to give an opportunity to those people who have not been inducted. We wanted to honor their impact, their legacy on the community.”
Senior Max Hastings said that anyone can submit a nomination, and there is not a limit on the number of candidates.
Their first order of business was to choose a Selection Committee, and the nomination process closed last week. They are looking for, in addition to Rich and two Athletic Leadership members, at least one LHS administrator, at least one community member, two faculty members, two current LHS students and one LHS alumnus. Committee members will be notified by June 25 and announced by June 30.
Then the real work begins. Applications for the 2016 Hall of Fame are due Aug. 30. The 2016 inductees will be announced at the Mack Plaque football game, which is at LHS this year, and the induction ceremony will be Nov. 26.
Board member Leitha Reilly asked if the Hall of Fame was specifically for athletes. Donnelly said no, it was for any community member who had an impact on LHS.
Reilly also questioned what they would do on the alternate years when the Mack Plaque game was played at Pinkerton, and Rich said it would most likely be announced at the pep rally. “It will be in some kind of public forum,” she said.