Editor’s note: The following is a press release from Mongomery County Schools.
Designed to be a source of learning, inspiration and hope for everyone in the community, the Montgomery County Hall of Honor is seeking nominations for its inaugural class of inductees. The Hall of Honor was established in 2019 to promote and honor the excellence of the people of Montgomery County in order to encourage and inspire the youth and residents to strive for similar excellence in life’s endeavors. It’s set to induct its first class in late 2020.
Troy Town Commissioner and the Hall of Honor’s Board Chair Damon Prince says the Hall creates an opportunity to remember Montgomery County’s past while keeping an eye on the future. “Having a Hall of Honor sets an example not only to our community and its youth, but to our adult residents as well, that there are opportunities to make a difference,” says Prince. “The Hall will serve as a reminder of those who have contributed to the success of the communities they live in, and as an inspiration to everyone to see that anyone from Montgomery County can go on to do great things.”
The Hall of Honor board established nomination guidelines and procedures, listed online here, to help residents in completing a nomination. Nominee categories include arts and entertainment; enterprise – including the fields of science, medicine, business and philanthropy; leadership – including the fields of education, military and sports; and service. “This is your moment to have someone recognized for their work,” says Prince when considering what he would say to encourage nominations. “The most important thing not to do, is nothing. If there is somebody you know who has made a difference and demonstrated a commitment to serve, you can honor them by nominating them.”
In considering how the Hall of Honor will serve the residents of Montgomery County, Dr. Takeda LeGrand, the associate superintendent for accountability, diversity and equity at Montgomery County Schools, says the Hall has the potential to create unity. “The Hall gives us the chance to respect the trailblazers of the past, recognize the current greatness amongst us, and inspire future generations through relatability with a common place – Montgomery County,” says LeGrand. “By recognizing the collective contributions of the honorees, it creates unity with a common goal of making sure Montgomery County is recognized as a great place to call home with a well-documented history of service, leadership and philanthropy.”
The Hall of Honor was established by a community committee, with initial funding to cover startup costs provided by Montgomery County Schools. While it may take a few years, Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Dr. Dale Ellis says any income the Hall of Honor generates through donations will be used to create project-based funds for Montgomery County teachers and their classrooms. “First and foremost, we hope the Hall of Honor does two things – it serves as a reminder to our young people of what can be accomplished and it sparks a kid to learn in school so they can ultimately go on to do great things. Secondly, we want our students to see that your ZIP code does not define your fate and no matter where you are from you can accomplish meaningful things in life.”
As conversation about the Hall of Honor spreads, Ellis also hopes it will help redefine what greatness means. “Greatness can be a lifetime of small things that people have done well over a period of time,” he says. “While we can easily pick out the people who have done the big things, we also don’t want to forget the volunteers or others who have quietly served our community for a number of years. If they’ve made an impact, no matter how big or small, we want to consider them for this honor.”
To nominate someone deserving of Hall of Honor consideration, click here. Nominations are due by Oct. 16, 2020.