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Highland High School’s history of athletic success has left its physical Wall of Fame with limited space for future athletes to be added.
However, Highland Athletic Director Brandon Larson recognized this problem and found a digital solution.
Highland's traditional Wall of Fame pays tribute to the accomplishments of the school’s elite athletes. Since the school opened in 1993, student-athletes who have won a state championship or have been named first team all-state in his or her sport have earned a spot on the school's Wall of Fame.
With more than 200 slots for students to be recognized, Highland seemed to be in a position to celebrate success for years to come. However, more than 40 Highland Hawks have met the criteria to earn themselves a spot on the Wall of Fame in the past threee years — leaving fewer than 20 spots for future students.
At this pace, Highland High would run out of room before the end of next year.
“The coaching staff across all our sports have focused on creating elite student-athletes who love and support each other," Larson said. "Winning these titles has really been a byproduct of that coaching method. I knew we’d quickly run out of room on our physical Wall of Fame so I had to figure out a way to honor our athletes in a different way.”
While at a conference, Larson found a potential solution to his problem — a virtual Wall of Fame.
Accessible on a touchscreen proudly standing in the lobby of Highland's gymnasium, the virtual Wall of Fame showcases the accomplishments of every eligible student since the school began nearly 30 years ago.
The newly imagined Wall of Fame allows users to see which year and what sport student-athletes were named first team all-state or earned a state title.
Future updates to the virtual platform will include photos of the trophies, banners, and records earned by the school.
“The virtual Wall of Fame allows us to remember the great people that have attended Highland High,” Larson added. “I went to school here, and some of my friends are in the Wall of Fame. It’s great that they’re able to see their names in a place that will never go away.”
Larson also talked about how the new Wall of Fame has impacted students, parents and members of the community, referring to the touchscreen monitor as a popular area during sporting events.
In addition to the monitor in Highland’s gymnasium, the virtual Wall of Fame can also be accessed directly from the school’s athletics webpage — allowing students and fans to showcase the athletes from any device with internet access.
