VPA Hall of Fame

---

The Class of 2024

February 20, 2024

MONTPELIER – Seven standout student-athletes, 3 accomplished coaches, an outstanding advisor, and one excellent official have been selected for induction into the Hall of Fame for the Vermont Principals’ Association in May.

Below is a list of the 2024 VPA inductees with brief biographical information on their outstanding achievements and strong sportsmanship through involvement with VPA activities. Since the creation of the Hall of Fame in 2001, the VPA has honored nearly 300 student-athletes, coaches/advisors, administrators, officials, media members, and contributors for their efforts on behalf of students across Vermont. (Full Press Release)

---

About the VPA Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame was formed in January 2001 to honor and recognize outstanding individuals who through distinguished service and achievement, have excelled in one or more high school athletic programs or activities sponsored by the VPA. Here is the list of those who have been inducted into the VPA Hall of Fame through class of 2024. Special note, due to the pandemic there was no class of 2021.

Those who are eligible may include the following:

• School Administrators – Those individuals who distinguished themselves as school administrators – principals, assistant principals, athletic & activity directors.  They may have ascended to other roles, but are being nominated for their contributions at the school level.
• Coaches/Activity Advisors – Those individuals who distinguished themselves as coaches and/or advisors to VPA sponsored activities.
• Officials – Those individuals who distinguished themselves as athletic or activity officials – referees, umpires, judges, and officials.
• Athletic/Activity Participants – Those individuals who distinguished themselves in outstanding high school athletic and/or activity participation in high school.
• Media – Those individuals who distinguished themselves by covering high school athletics and activities through Vermont media outlets.
• Contributors – Those individuals who distinguished themselves through their contributions to high school athletics and activities that may not be covered by any of the previous categories.

–Criteria

• Nominees must exemplify the highest standards of sportsmanship, ethical conduct and moral character.
• Nominees will be judged on their significant and/or long-term contributions to interscholastic activities and athletics on both a local and state-wide basis.
• The categories of administrator, athlete/activity participant, coach/activity advisor, official, media, and contributor are included on the nomination form in order to clarify which category the nominee is to be considered for. The categories exist for screening purposes only, in order to assist those making the nominations in considering the focus of the supporting information that will accompany the nomination.
• All candidates for the Hall of Fame, except for the category of student athletes/activity participants, must be at least 40 years of age prior to November 15th of the applicable year in order to be considered for induction. Student athletes/activity participants must be 25 years of age as of the same date.

The Selection Committee will place the nominees for the Hall of Fame in one of the following categories:

•  Approved for Induction
• “Hold for Future Consideration”- a nominee may be considered again for induction in subsequent years.
• “Inactive for Consideration.”  “Inactive” indicates the nominee may be considered for Hall of Fame induction at such time if/when additional information is received.

The VPA Hall of Fame Committee reserves the right to review and remove any existing member of the VPA Hall of Fame for egregious behavior or unprofessional conduct that opposes the VPA’s Mission and Hall of Fame’s high ethical expectations.

Nomination Instructions

• Nomination Form

Deadline for Class of 2025 was January 10th, 2025. All nominations received after January 10th, 2025 will be for the class of 2026.

For a nomination to be considered complete, the committee needs this nomination form and three letters of recommendation. You can have those letters of recommendation sent via email to Mallori Longevin at mlongevin@vpaonline.org, or by mail–directly to VPA, 2 Prospect St. 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 nomination is considered to be complete when it contains the following materials:

• The nomination form, with all requested information and signatures completed.
• Three letters of recommendation, from the nominator and other appropriate individuals that speaks directly to the nominee’s qualifications for the HOF. At least two of the letters must be from non-family members.
• Self Nominations are not allowed, and family member nominations will have a limit of one letter of recommendation in a nomination packet.
• Other support material, such as a limited number of newspaper clippings, magazine articles, copies of score books and statistics may 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.  This information is not required.

In completing and forwarding the nomination packet, please observe the following:

• All copies should be 8 1/2” x 11”.
• Please type all material so that the copy is legible.
• Do not use highlighters to point out specific facts; either underline or draw arrows to mark copy.
• Do not use notebooks with plastic sheet protectors.

---

Hall of Fame Committee Membership

The VPA Hall of Fame Committee works to have representation from different stakeholders. While the nominations can come from anyone, the Committee is made up of volunteers who meet and work throughout the year to review, process, and ensure complete nominations. The organizing, facilitation, and general coordination of the Hall of Fame is led by the VPA’s Assistant Executive Director and supported by the VPA’s Event Coordinator. 

The committee will seek representatives for the following roles, which total 11 possible voting members: 

• Two representative members, active or retired, of the media
• A representative member, active or retired, of the VPA Executive Council
• The Associate Director of the VPA (dedicated to sports/activities leadership)
• A representative member, active or retired,  from VPA’s Activities Standards Committee
• A representative member, active or retired of Vermont School Athletic Directors Association
• Two representative members, from the respective affinity groups among VPA membership 
• A representative member, active or retired, coach/advisor of VPA member school student athletes
• A representative member, active or retired official (e.g. umpires, judges, referees) for VPA regulated activities
• A representative member at large that may not fall within any of the previous categories

Terms of committee membership: With the exception of any VPA related staff, all committee members will serve 5 year terms, with the opportunity to renew one time after five years. Nomination for committee members from different stakeholders (see above) will be forwarded to the hall of fame for consideration (e.g. Executive Council can nominate who from their Council will serve on the Hall of Fame Committee when seats become open). The committee will work to have geographical and gender diversity among its members. 

Current active committee membership: Frank Pecora, Dave Cobb, Jayne Barber, June Sargent, Mike Donoghue, Robin Noble, Tom Haley, Paul Trono, Eric Ramey, and VPA staff: Mike McRaith.

---