Ohio Wesleyan University Athletic Hall of Fame

The Ohio Wesleyan Athletic Hall of Fame was founded in 1961—one of the first ever in the United States and the first to induct women.

Purpose

The OWU Athletic Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding alumni athletes whose performance in their sport(s) was exceptional. The Hall of Fame may also honor those OWU coaches, staff personnel and others in the University community, who have made extraordinary contributions to OWU athletics by means other than varsity competition.

The Hall of Fame Selection Committee is composed of a cross-section of representatives from the athletic department, University Relations and alumni and is responsible for screening and selecting inductees. The University Relations division reviews/accepts the recommendations and officially notifies the inductees of their selection into the Hall of Fame.

Selections

OWU Hall of Fame Recipients » View the complete list of Hall of Fame inductees

Nominate an OWU Athlete Alumni » Nominate an outstanding OWU alumni athlete

***Please note that only information submitted using the official nomination form will be accepted. All information submitted without using the nomination form will not be seen by the selection committee or used in the selection process.***

Criteria for Selection

1. Graduate of OWU
2. The nominee's preferred class must have graduated from OWU at least 10 years prior to the first year the athlete is submitted for consideration.
3. The athlete-nominee must have demonstrated exceptional and outstanding performance in his or her sport(s) and have earned at least one varsity letter.
4. The varsity letter requirement shall be waived for female athletes who graduated prior to such awards for their sport(s).
5. "Silver Bishop" athletes—those who graduated from OWU at least 25 years prior to the current academic year and who meet all qualifications for selection will be considered under the same selection criteria.
6. Coaches and staff with at least ten years' employment and two or more years since leaving their coaching positions at OWU are eligible for nomination.

Nomination Procedures and Deadlines

To nominate an OWU alumnus or alumna for induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame, nominations must be submitted on the official, authorized OWU Athletic Hall of Fame Nomination form to Alumni Relations representative who will promptly acknowledge each nomination by e-mail or letter.

All nominations are to be held in strict confidence by both those who submit a nomination and by the members of the Selection Committee. Candidates should not be aware of their nomination until they have been contacted by the University in an official capacity.

The deadline for accepting nominations from all constituencies (i.e. alumni, staff, HOF committee members and the Silver Bishop committee) for the current academic year is January 15.

Selection Meeting

The Hall of Fame/Strimer Award Selection Committee meets to review each candidate's Nomination form and write-up the fourth Monday in May.

The Selection Committee reviews each candidate under consideration for the current Hall of Fame induction class. The Committee will select a current-year class not to exceed eight (8) members, including if possible and as a matter of tradition, one or more qualified alumni from the "Silver Bishop" category.

Candidates considered for induction but not selected for induction in the current-year Hall of Fame will be placed into the group "for inclusion in future years" where their eligibility for consideration will be kept for two more years (a total of three years on the nomination list). After that time, if not inducted the nominee will be removed from future consideration.

After the Selection Committee finalizes its slate for Hall of Fame induction, successful candidates will be informed of this honor by letter from the University President. The Alumni Relations Office then follows with a letter requesting pertinent information and provides basic information regarding Homecoming Weekend.

Alumni Relations will provide names of the inductees to the Alumni "W" Association Excellence Chairs. The Chairs are encouraged to promote and support the event to honor "their" inductee(s) as well as planning any reunion event on campus as part of the Hall of Fame/Strimer Award recognition weekend.