According to Albion College’s alumni association page, The Athletic Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the achievements and prestige of Albion College in the field of athletics.
However, as the list of honorees keeps growing, the storage is dwindling. As a result, Albion College has modernized its approach by transitioning to a digital format for the Athletic Hall of Fame.
The transition to digital is more than just a storage solution. Director of Athletics Jennifer Rushton said that the Athletics Department will also be able to keep up with changing information, including key details like photos, sports played, graduation year, induction year and career achievements.
“When you look up a Hall of Fame member, you can actually read about them,” Rushton said. “It gives us the opportunity to tell more about each of the Hall of Fame inductees.”
According to Rushton, the Dow, a hub for student-athletes, now features a digital interface for the Athletic Hall of Fame – a space designed to honor those who have “laid the foundation” for current athletes, while also offering recruits a look into their possible futures.
Leader of the initiative and Sports Information Director Marissa Smego said that the previous institution she worked for had a similar digital display for the Hall of Fame.
”I think it’s just so cool,” Smego said. “And at the end of the day, it’s cost-effective.”
Smego added that she started planting the seed for the digital Hall of Fame when she was hired in 2020. After going through the hurdles of a changing administration and finances, she got the go-ahead last spring.
This digital display is something that Smego said she couldn’t get done alone. With the help of the Sports, Communications and Marketing Departments Smego created her vision.
According to Smego, the Hall of Fame display is a “big recruitment tool,” for athletics. Due to its location at the front of the Dow, future student-athletes will see the display on visits.
“The tour guides already walk prospective students, not just student-athletes, through there,” Smego said. “It’s something cool that it’s not just the Hall of Fame, but it has all MIAA champions in it.”
Rushton said she recognizes that all Albion College Athletic Hall of Famers share a sense of pride — both in their contribution to their respective sports and the mark they left at Albion.
“They are very proud to have been a student-athlete here and proud to be inducted into the Hall of Fame,” Rushton said.
The display is still unfinished and has more work to be done, according to Smego, but as of right now is up and running for all in the Dow. With the work of the Communications and Marketing Departments, the display can “set them apart,” from the rest.
“This is going to set us apart, and I think a lot of places I’ve seen,” Smego said. ”So I think this is something, not only did we do it, but we did it right.”
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