Free State High School has launched a nomination form for its first round of hall of fame inductees, which the school will celebrate as part of its 30-year anniversary.
The hall of fame is the brainchild of a teacher-led committee focused on school spirit, Firebird Nation. FSHS Principal Amy McAnarney said that since the school opened in 1997, the teachers thought it would be a great way to ring in 30 years.
“I think it’s important to recognize either staff members or alumni that have demonstrated really high achievement, even beyond high school,” she said. “… A lot of them have made a lot of contributions to the school and the community, but even beyond that, some of them are nationally known or even internationally known.”
She continued, saying, “Hopefully at Free State, we’ve helped shape who they are.”
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FSHS is inviting the community to submit hall of fame nominations now through Friday, May 15 through the form at this link.
Eligible nominees include student alumni who graduated 10 or more years ago, as well as administrators, faculty, staff and coaches/sponsors/directors of activities who have worked at the school for at least 10 years.
Staff can include folks in food service or paraprofessionals, as an example, McAnarney said.
The Hall of Fame Selection Committee is composed of the principal, current and retired staff, and a community member, according to McAnarney.
They will judge nominations based on the person’s achievement during and beyond high school at community, state, national and international levels; character and citizenship; and lasting contributions to the school and community. Read the full criteria at this link.
“I think (a nomination) that would stand out would be one that, over time, they have definitely showed some type of either academic distinction, maybe it’s athletic excellence, career accomplishments, civic or public service, community leadership, maybe contributors to the school,” she said.
This summer, the committee will select between three and five inductees.
McAnarney said they’re still ironing out the details, but they plan to celebrate the honorees at the fall homecoming game and hang plaques with their pictures in the FSHS commons area.
The committee will review nominations each year to keep expanding the hall of fame.
McAnarney also said the school will announce more 30th anniversary events in the coming months.
“This is my 11th year at Free State, and I have an immense amount of pride for our school,” she said. “We have such great faculty and staff who care so much about the kids, and we have such wonderful kids … It brings me a lot of pride that we’re able to start a Hall of Fame like this.”
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Wulfe Wulfemeyer (they/them), reporter and news editor, has worked with The Lawrence Times since May 2025. They can be reached at wulfe@lawrencekstimes.com.
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