From the CEO: Honors Ceremonies Over the Years
The South Dakota Hall of Fame’s mission is to champion a Culture of Excellence in South Dakota. We take that mission seriously, and in the face of a global pandemic we have adapted and changed our yearly event to honor our class of 2020. These ten extraordinary individuals are honored for their achievements that inspire our youth, lead the generations and build our future here in South Dakota. We are so excited to rise to the occasion and put together an amazing virtual Medallion Celebration to officially induct these dream chasers. By transitioning our yearly event to an online celebration, we have been able to create brand new ways to interact with and showcase these amazing inductees. This year’s event will be available for more people to view than it ever has in the past, creating more visibility for inspiration to chase one’s dreams! We are also very excited to announce that the 2020 Inductees will be honored in person for their Honors Ceremony , Friday, April 16th & Saturday, April 17th of 2021.
2019 Inductees
We are thrilled to carry on new traditions into the future here at the Hall of Fame, but we wanted to pause and take a look back at Honors Ceremonies of the past. These annual gatherings are the highlight of the year here at the Hall of Fame, and over the years have filled our hearts with so many touching memories. The two day event begins with a welcome reception where the inductees are officially welcomed to the hall. It's a day of excitement and a chance for all of the inductees to meet each other and share in the joyful experience of joining a long line of dream chasers. Saturday is a full day of festivities including a governor’s brunch, where the inductees are presented with their medallions, an anniversary reunion at the Visitor & Education Center where a meet and greet is held and the inductees get to see their panels added to the hall itself, and it all culminates to the Honors Ceremony Banquet that evening where each inductee gives an acceptance speech.
Listening to these inductees tell their story and give their speeches is always a beautiful moment. Getting to see them recognized for all they have done for the state of South Dakota brings home the mission we hold dear here at the South Dakota Hall of Fame. We are so thankful for all who have worked so hard to go with the flow of 2020 and help this year’s Online Medallion Celebration become a reality. The ten inductees now have a chance to give a preview of their acceptance speech on an online platform that will reach a multitude of dream chasers. We hope you will join us this year at our Online Medallion Celebration and feel the same inspiration we have felt over the years. For more information on this year’s virtual celebration and to RSVP to the event, click here.