WILL ROGERS HIGH SCHOOL HALL OF FAME RULES FOR NOMINATION AND PROCEDURES FOR SELECTION
- The primary purpose of the Will Rogers High School Hall of Fame is to inspire current and future students by honoring distinguished alumni. We hope the students will strive to emulate the successes of the honorees in their own careers, knowing that they can aspire to greatness, regardless of their ethnic or socio-economic background.
- The Will Rogers High School Hall of Fame is the property of Will Rogers High School (and successor names), which has delegated to the Will Rogers High School Community Foundation responsibility for conducting the selection process and induction ceremony. The invitation to nominate an eligible person is open to everyone. The members of the Hall of Fame are significant stakeholders in the Will Rogers High School Hall of Fame, and are advised of nominations being considered, and their ranking of the candidates are considered. The Hall of Fame Committee selects the candidates to be inducted in any given year, if any. Their selections are final when approved by the Principal of Will Rogers High School and the Board of Directors.
- The criteria for selection rely on a definition of fame as accomplishment, public esteem, reputation, and overall character. Fame may also be defined as popular acclaim and renown, wide acclaim and high honors. A person may achieve fame within his or her field of endeavor without becoming a household name. Generally, selection for the Hall of Fame requires more than doing a good job. The honorees are people who go above and beyond what is normally considered required for success in their field.
- All graduates of Will Rogers High School, living or deceased, are eligible to be selected for induction into the Will Rogers High School Hall of Fame. This includes anyone who left school to enter military service and who is eligible to receive a diploma from the school district pursuant to Oklahoma Statutes, title70, section24-153 (70 O.S. 24-153), which covers veterans who served during World War II and the Korean War, or any wartime service that might be named in the future in a successor statute.
- Nominations are open to the public. Self-nomination is permitted. Nominations must be delivered to the Foundation using the online form on this website, or by US Mail addressed to: Will Rogers High School Community Foundation, Hall of Fame, P.O. Box 52845, Tulsa, OK 74152. Nominations must be submitted online or postmarked no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 31 to be considered for the next announced induction class. Nominations received after the deadline may be held for consideration in the next induction class. All nominations must be typed.
- Hall of Fame members must have made a significant contribution and be eminently distinguished in his or her field of endeavor, including but not limited to: Business and Industry, Science and Medicine, Civic Affairs, Education, Entertainment and the Arts, Humanities or Literature, Athletics, or Government Service and Military, or a combination of these. Honorees may be recognized for Philanthropy or Public Service. Virtually all Hall of Fame Members have contributed significant public service, in addition to their other attributes. There is no quota for any category of achievement. The nominee should be at least 20 years past high school graduation to be considered, but exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
- Selection is based on accomplishments after high school, but achievements during school years may be considered, if they are especially remarkable or are related to the nominee’s later life. The nomination should contain all facts essential to support the nomination. The narrative should focus on the nominee’s accomplishments and recognition received since high school that distinguish the nominee. Nominations may be supported by websites and copies of newspaper clippings, award certificates and citations, letters from colleagues, photographs, bibliography of published articles, curriculum vitae, etc. Supporting documentation is recommended but not required. Suggested limit for supporting documents is 10 pages. Accompanying documentation will not be returned. The nomination must include complete contact information for the nominee, including mailing address, email address and/or telephone number. Unsigned or incomplete nominations will not be considered.
- The nominee must be willing to travel at his or her own expense to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to participate in the scheduled induction ceremony for that class. A close family member or other suitable recipient may be designated to to represent a candidate who is being recognized posthumously, or who is unable to travel for physical reasons. No such representatives will be accepted because of personal scheduling conflicts. Honorees are also encouraged to respond to inquiries that may come later from students about the inductee’s own career and provide advice for the students for achieving their career goals.
- No announcement of individual selections shall be made until the induction class list is released to the public by the Will Rogers High School Community Foundation. Following the initial announcement, candidates are encouraged to make individual announcements to their local media and organizations, with or without the assistance of the foundation’s Public Relations Committee. Announcements should acknowledge both the principal and the Foundation as the source.
- Once the Board of Directors and the school principal have approved the list of candidates and the nominee is informed of his or her selection, a representative of the foundation may contact the nominee directly to confirm the nominee’s commitment to be present for the induction ceremony and to obtain additional, non-returnable photos, videos and other material to use in pre-induction publicity and the induction ceremony.
- All selections are tentative pending confirmation that the candidate will be present to accept the honor or will have a representative as specified above. In the event the selected nominee is not able to fulfill this requirement, that person will be considered as not selected. That person may be considered the following year, as specified above.
- Nominations of eligible nominees not selected for an induction class are automatically considered again for the next induction class, and then will be dropped from consideration. Anyone not selected may be nominated again. There is no limit to the number of times a person may be nominated or to the number of people who may nominate someone.
- All decisions pertaining to the interpretation and application of these rules and procedures or to the selection of candidates for induction will be at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, with the advice and consent of the principal.