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purpose

In order to preserve our athletic history, he Somerset High School Athletic Hall of Fame was founded in 2008. The Athletic Hall of Fame is organized for the purpose of recognizing the rich tradition of athletic success at Somerset High School. It serves as a means of honoring and recognizing the athletes, teams, coaches, and supporters who made significant contributions to the Briar Jumper tradition of excellence. The athletic Hall of Fame honors the contributions and accomplishments of these individuals and teams who are worthy of recognition as examples for others to emulate. Induction ceremonies are held annually.

 

The Somerset High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee adopts the following bylaws for the Selection Committee:

selection committee

  • The Hall of Fame Selection Committee shall include the following members and shall consist of no more than 14 members.

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Permanent members:

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  • Those selection committee members (5-6) who have faithfully served on this committee through the years and whom have a vast knowledge of the history of SHS athletics.

Standing members:

  • Athletic Director

  • Chair of the SHS Hall of Fame

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At-large members:

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  • 5-6 Hall of Fame or Alumni Association members, representing a cross-section of decades.

  • The terms of at-large members shall be staggered so that a minimum of 2 new members will rotate on each voting year as terms expire. The initial Committee shall have 1-2 members who shall have one voting year term, the other 1-2 members shall have 2 voting year terms. Members elected by the standing membership to replace outgoing members of the initial at-large committee shall serve two voting years.

  • While there are no explicit qualifications for at-large committee members, care shall be exercised to select members who have knowledge of the athletic history of SHS and are representative of the various periods of that history. Members of the committee must abstain from voting if a member of his/her immediate family or relative is proposed.

  • The standing members shall elect a Secretary and an Archivist. The Secretary will maintain minutes from selection meetings. The Archivist shall be responsible for verifying information submitted with nominations and with preserving SHS athletic records.

  • The Committee will be responsible for the selection of Hall of Fame inductees. The committee will meet every year to vote on candidates for the Hall of Fame.

  • The Committee shall induct between 1-3 individuals, and 1 coach/team/contributor into the Hall of Fame every year. The Committee shall vote on the nominees it determines suitable for consideration. A minimum positive vote of 75% of members present is required for induction.

nominations

The Selection Committee will develop a form upon which nominations will be made. The form must be completed and the qualifications of the proposed inductee must be clearly set forth in the form.

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  • Nominations may be made by anyone, however self-nominations or unsigned/anonymous nominations will not be accepted.

  • The Selection Committee has developed a form upon which nominations can be made. The form must be completed and the qualifications of the proposed inductee must be clearly set forth in the form.

  • Nominations for consideration may be made by the Selection Committee or by public nominations. Application for nominations are available on the SHS Hall of Fame website.

  • Nominations must be received by specified deadline to be considered for the current induction class.

  • The Selection Committee shall have the discretion to narrow the field of nominees.

  • Nomination forms will be kept and reviewed annually if candidate is not inducted for current class for up to five years.

Eligibility criteria

  • Athletes, coaches, teams, administrators or supporters, living or deceased, shall be eligible for induction subject to the criteria below. All nominees must represent the Somerset High School tradition of excellence and values.

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Athletes:

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  • Eligible 15 years after graduation from SHS (i.e.; 2023 grad for 2038 induction)

  • Must be an SHS graduate - selection committee will have discretion in unique, special circumstances (i.e.; death, accident).

  • Must have lettered in one or more Varsity sports.

  • Athletic ability, sportsmanship, character, leadership, contribution to team and the games he/she participated in. A similar standard of ethics shall have characterized the years following their time at Somerset High School, to the best of the committee’s knowledge.

  • Awarded All-Conference, All-State, any individual or team championship, any record or winning streak, league leader in recognized statistical category, college scholarship, etc.

  • Committee may also consider post-graduate activities including college and professional experience.

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Coaches:

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  • Any coach with 10+ years coaching experience at SHS is eligible (the Committee may make exceptions as to years experience in unique, special circumstances)

  • The nominee must be inactive.

  • Accomplishments (individual or teams) must have merited league and/or statewide recognition, as well as made significant contributions to the athletic programs at SHS.

  • Coaching ability, loyalty to SHS, leadership, character, athletic expertise, significant contribution to their teams and to the sports they coached must have been demonstrated.

  • The same ethical and life standards expected of his/her athletes shall also characterize the life of the coach.

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Teams:

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  • Championship teams having attained record status.

  • Exceptional leadership, character, loyalty to SHS and the passion for, and support of, the success of Somerset athletics is paramount.

 

Somerset High School reserves the right to remove any individual from the Hall of Fame for personal conduct, which reflects discredit upon the school.

voting procedures

  • The Selection Committee shall review all candidates based on information available at the time of the meeting.

  • After open discussion about candidates, the Committee shall call for a vote for the purpose of selecting inductees. To be accepted into the Athletic Hall of Fame the nominee must receive an 80% approval rating from all voting members.

  • The voting process will be kept confidential.

  • Hall of Fame selections will be announced after the individual/teams have been notified and their acceptance of the induction and participation in the ceremony are verified.

hall of fame induction ceremony

  • An Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will occur every other year.

  • The Chair of the Hall of Fame Committee will oversee the planning of the ceremony. All Steering Committee members and Alumni Association Representatives are welcome to serve on the planning committee.

  • Each inductee must attend the Hall of Fame ceremony. If the inductee is deceased, a representative must attend the ceremony. In the case of an emergency or other hardship, which precludes the inductee or representative from attendance, the Hall of Fame Committee will make the appropriate decision regarding induction.

  • On the day of the induction, new members are guests of honor at the induction luncheon.

  • Inductee may choose a member of the selection committee or another appropriate person to introduce the new member at the ceremony.

  • New members are presented with a Hall of Fame memento and their name will be listed on a Hall of Fame plaque, which will be permanently displayed at Somerset High School.

bylaws

  • The Committee reserves the rights to amend the Bylaws, if needed, by majority vote.

© 2020 by SHS Hall of Fame

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