Press Release 2/14/2012
For Immediate Release
VERMONT PRINCIPALS’ ASSOCIATION
HALL OF FAME – CLASS OF 2012
The Selection Committee of the Vermont Principals’ Association Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the selection of the Class of 2012. The members of this year’s class have distinguished themselves in schools, on courts and fields, and among their peers.
Administration
Dan Marlow, Athletic Director, BFA St. Albans
Norman Stevens, Principal (Retired), Green Mountain Union High School, Mill River Union High School
Activities & Athletics
Randy Jennings Swormstedt, Northfield High School
Becky Bouchard, Rice Memorial High School
Officials
Spencer Noble, Essex Jct., Basketball & Soccer Officiating
Media
Mal Boright, Williston, VT, Sports reporter and editor, Broadcasting
Coaches & Activity Directors
Bob Rowe, Peoples’ Academy, Basketball
Yvonne Frates, Woodstock Union High School, Field Hockey
Wade Mitchell, Proctor High School, Otter Valley Union HS, Baseball
Andrew “Andy” Natowich, Brattleboro Union High School, Football
Frank Pecora, Northfield High School, Baseball
C. Daniel Thurston, St. Johnsbury Academy, Basketball
Dwight Fiske, Harwood Union High School, Soccer
The Class of 2012 will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Friday, May 4, 2012 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel, 100 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05602. A social hour will begin at 5:00 PM, with a meal and ceremony following at 6:00 PM. Reservation information can be found on the VPA web site at www.vpaonline.org or by contacting the VPA office at 802 229-0547.
The VPA Hall of Fame was founded in 2003 to recognize the outstanding careers of educational leaders, student athletes, members of the media, and the public who positively impacted the lives of Vermont youth. For additional information, please contact Dave Cobb at the VPA at 802 229-0547
Exit 8 off I-89, merge onto Memorial Drive. At second stop- light take a left onto Bailey Avenue. At intersection take right onto State Street. Vermont State House is on your left, 1/2 block on the Right is Capitol Plaza Hotel.
2012 Hall of Fame Information Letter
a) School administrators (superintendents, principals, athletic/activities directors)
b) Coaches/Activity Advisors
c) Officials
d) Student athletes/activity participants
e) Sportswriters, sports broadcasters
f) Contributors
Classes are inducted yearly at the VPA Annual Meeting.
Nominees must exemplify the highest standards of sportsmanship, ethical conduct and moral character.
The categories of athlete/fine arts participant, coach/fine arts advisor, official, administrator and contributor are included on the nomination form for expediency in understanding the primary area in which an individual is to be considered for his or her achievements in interscholastic activities. The grouping is for screening purposes only and to assist those making the nominations in understanding the type of information required.
All candidates for the Hall of Fame, except for the category of student athletes/activity participants, must be at least 35 years of age prior to November 15 of the applicable year in order to be considered for induction. Student athletes/activity participants must be 25 as of the same date.
ALL CANDIDATES IN THE ABOVE CATEGORIES WILL BE JUDGED ON THEIR SIGNIFICANT AND/OR LONG-TERM CONTRIBUTIONS TO INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES. WHILE MANY HAVE SERVED THEIR STATE AND LOCAL PROGRAMS OVER A LONG AND DISTINGUISHED CAREER, THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS MUST HAVE BEEN WORTHY TO VHA/VPA SPONSORED ACTIVITIES. NOMINEES MUST EXEMPLIFY THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF SPORTSMANSHIP, ETHICAL CONDUCT, AND MORAL CHARACTER.
Nominees for the Hall of Fame will either be 1) Approved, 2) Put on “Hold for Future” or 3) Place in the “Inactive” category. The “Hold for Future consideration” category means a nominee may be considered again for induction and that additional information and supportive material would be helpful before future consideration. “Inactive” indicates that the nominee no longer will be considered for Hall of Fame induction until or unless they meet the eligibility requirements.
The VPA Hall of Fame is organized as a means of recognizing, preserving and promoting the heritage of interscholastic athletics/activities in Vermont. Many individuals have made extraordinary contributions and have had superb accomplishments in high school athletics/activities. The VPA Hall of Fame honors the contributions and accomplishments of these individuals who are worthy of recognition as examples for others to emulate.
All information on this form must be completed and supporting letters of recommendation received for the candidate to be considered for the following year’s class. The completed nomination form and supporting materials should be sent to: Vermont Principals’ Association Hall of Fame, 2 Prospect Street, Suite #3, Montpelier, VT 05602. Once the nomination form is received by the VPA, all action necessary to the selection process shall remain confidential. All information submitted shall be retained by the VPA Hall of Fame.
A completed nomination should be accompanied by three letters of recommendation from the nominator and other appropriate individuals from the nominee’s related high school career. In cases where other support material is difficult to obtain, additional letters may be in order to substantiate the individual’s accomplishments or contributions. Letters of recommendation for other awards or honors should not be used as a substitute for this requirement. A limited number of newspaper clippings, magazine articles, copies of scorebooks and statistics should be included to help substantiate the accomplishments and contributions of the nominee. These materials should focus on high school accomplishments and contributions and be listed in chronological order.
A black-and-white photograph also should accompany this nomination. If the nominee is inducted into the Hall of Fame, the nominee or individual submitting the nomination shall furnish, at no cost to the Hall of Fame, an 8” x 10” color photograph of the nominee.
In completing the nomination material, please observe the following: 1) All copies should be 8 1/2” x 11”; 2) nominators should sign their names on the form on the VPA Hall of Fame Nomination Form page 2; 3) do not use highlighters to point out specific facts; either underline or draw arrows to mark copy; 4) please type all material so that the copy is legible; 5) do not use notebooks with plastic sheet protectors; 6) put names on the back of all photos.
The purpose of the VPA Hall of Fame is to honor and recognize outstanding individuals who have had a significant and lasting impact on the lives of Vermont’s youth through their involvement in high school athletics/activities programs.
Hall of Fame nominees shall include individuals who, through distinguished achievement, have excelled in one or more high school athletic/activities programs sponsored by the VPA. These individuals may include the following:
A) School Administrators (Superintendents, Principals, Athletic Directors)
B) Coaches/Activity Advisors
C) Officials
D) Student Athletes/Fine Arts Participants
E) Media
F) Contributors
A special selection committee will judge all nominees on their significant and/or long-term contributions to VPA sponsored athletic/activities programs.
Nominees who are listed in A, B, C, E and F above must have served in that capacity for a minimum of twenty seasons and must be 35 years old prior to November 15 of the applicable year in order to be considered. Student Athletes/Fine Arts Participants (D) must be 25 years of age prior to November 15 of the applicable year in order to be considered for induction.
Requests will be made available by the VPA to member schools, coaches and officiating associations and to the general public at large through news releases and mailings. Nominations will be due by January 31st each year.
The Selection Committee shall be appointed by the Executive Director of the VPA. The Selection Committee shall receive the nominations/ applications through the VPA Executive Director and will make the final decisions. Selection Committee members will have the authority to nominate additional candidates at the meeting.
The selection committee, including the Executive Director and Director of Student Activities will use the following process to “vote” on candidates:
All candidates for the category being considered will be listed on the voting form or board.
Selection Committee members will be given a number of votes equivalent to two less than the total number of candidates within the category. (ie-If there are 10 candidates for the category of administration, each Selection Committee member will have eight votes for that category.)
The Selection Committee members may then use those eight votes in any combination they choose, ranging from one vote each for eight different candidates to all eight for one or any other combination.
After the votes are cast in each category, the members of the Selection Committee will decide which candidates are to be inducted.
Recipients will be formally honored at an appropriate ceremony reception. They may also be recognized at local events in their respective communities.
Each recipient shall receive a certificate, VPA momento and a DVD recording of the induction ceremony. Their names will be included on the VPA Hall of Fame plaque that is on display at the VPA office.
