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August 28, 2009

ULM honors distinguished former students in new “Hall of Traditions”

Extraordinary students and teams call the University of Louisiana at Monroe home. To honor these students, ULM established the “Hall of Traditions” to showcase their excellence and achievements.

Located in the Student Union Building, the Hall of Traditions is a visible reminder that current students attend a university rich in tradition. The commemorative plaque states, “you are surrounded by excellence, by students, teams, and alumni who were striving to be the best, who represented our university and themselves with dignity, dedication, and class.”

The Hall of Traditions was completed in August 2009, prior to the arrival of the fall semester students. The first “class” of honorees include: Olympic athlete and Major League Baseball player Ben Sheets, eight time world record holder in pole vaulting John Pennel, National Football League player Joe Profit, as well as the 1985 Final Four Women’s Basketball team, the national champion ski team, the national championship debate team and country music singer Tim McGraw. In addition, the hall honors all 4.0 GPA graduates in the university’s history.

Candidates for the Hall of Traditions must exhibit an exceptional degree of accomplishment in their field or have made significant contributions to the university. These contributions can include academic, artistic or athletic achievement, as well as sustained success or recognition nationally. Tradition candidates are rotated annually at the start of every fall semester.

These candidates are selected by a committee appointed by the university's president and include representatives from a variety of campus areas: the President’s Office, Media Relations, Graphic Services, Athletics, Academics, the SUB, Alumni Relations and the CAB/SGA. This year’s committee, led by Executive Assistant to the President Dr. Richard Hood, is comprised of Laura Woodard, Dr. Don Skelton, Christi Bailey, Camile Currier, Adam Prendergast and Robin Taylor.

The Campus Activities Board and the Student Government Association partnered to make resources available to the committee, including frames for the photographs. Graphic Services printed the photos and the ULM Physical Plant installed the frames.

The Hall will continue to serve as a reminder to current students, faculty and staff of the history of excellence that ULM represents. Though the Hall does provide a tangible way to recognize former students who’ve achieved excellence on a national and international scale, it is also a reminder to current students to continue to strive for excellence in their own ways. The plaque introducing the Hall implores students to continue the university’s heritage: “whatever your goals here may be, carry on their legacy. Strive for excellence in all that you do.”

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