What started as a conversation between two classmates in 2009 blossomed into the Northshore Wall of Honor last year and now the deadline is approaching for nominations for the 2011 class of inductees.
The nomination deadline for the Wall of Honor at Pop Keeney Stadium is March 31 and the selection committee will meet in April. Nominees must be graduates of Northshore School District high schools (Bothell, Inglemoor, Woodinville and Secondary Academy for Success) who have been out of high school for at least 15 years and former district employees who have been retired five years.
Last year’s class of 17 included U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, Pulitzer Prize winner Peter Rinearson, Olympic gold medalists Tracie Ruiz Conforto and Candie Costie Merrill, sailor Karen Scholl Thorndike (who is the first woman to sail solo around the world) and former Alaska Gov. Keith Miller. Retired district officials included teacher-principal Larry Peterson, music educators Bernie Ackerman and Dennis Behrens and the late superintendent Julian Karp.
“Now it’s another year and we are seeking public help in getting deserving nominees,” said co-chairman George Selg, who came up with the idea of the Wall of Honor with Bothell class of 1963 classmate Al Strand.
“We know there are deserving people who should be considered that we just don’t know about,” Selg said. “Athletes, politicians and entertainers are pretty easy to track but folks in science, business and other occupations are much more difficult. One of 2010 inductees was Dr. John E. Halver, known in international scientific circles as ‘the father of fish nutrition.’ He is also known for his nutritional research for humans and he continues to help people around the world. He clearly represents the type of honoree we are looking for, but if his family and friends hadn’t made us aware of him, he wouldn’t have been considered.’”
“We also need help in learning about gifted teachers, principals and volunteers,” Selg continued. “For example, some teachers taught in schools the selection committee members don’t know much about or in decades where their knowledge is limited. There are legendary teachers and administrators who have made a profound impact on our school district or specific education programs and they deserve full consideration. We admit we just don’t know about them.”
Co-chairman Strand said, “Bothell, Inglemoor and Woodinville high schools and the Secondary Academy for Success high schools have had a combined total of about 200 graduating classes. That guarantees us a pool exceptional candidates. We want to honor them and also inspire today’s students and staff. Also, it’s just fun to look at the wall and say, ‘I didn’t know she went to Inglemoor’ and ‘I didn’t know he grew up in Northshore.’”
Selg and Strand emphasized that one thing that improves an alumni’s chances is evidence of “giving back” to the community, state or beyond. “It doesn’t have to be headline stuff, but it should be significant and meaningful,” said Selg. “A legacy of mentoring young people or volunteering in community programs that impact and enrich the lives of others certainly qualifies. It’s just further proof that we’re dealing not only with an exceptionally talented person but also a good and inspirational person.”
More information, including nomination forms and the bios of last year’s inductees, are available at www.nsd.org/wallofhonor on the Northshore School District Web site. Strand can be contacted at (425) 877-9002 and Selg at (206) 660-4646.
