MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Southern New Hampshire University Department of Athletics announced Monday, following a successful Homecoming Weekend, that the SNHU Athletic Hall of Fame will return this year under a slightly different format.
 
Hall of Fame classes will be announced at the annual SNHU Athletic Awards Ceremony in April and then celebrated, both digitally and in-person at the SNHU Awards and Celebration during the following Homecoming Weekend in October. The Class of 2023 will be announced in April and then inductions will continue on a biennial basis.
 
Originally created in 1967 and revived in 1988, the SNHU Athletic Hall of Fame last inducted a class in 2017. That induction ceremony was postponed until the spring of 2018 due to the opening of Penmen Stadium – now Mark A. Ouellette Stadium – with inductions then scheduled to take place on a biennial basis, beginning in 2020. However, inductions were paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Because of that hiatus and the sheer number of worthy former student-athletes – both those that have been eligible and the large number that have gained new eligibility in the last five years – the new format will allow for more inductees than usual to adequately reward the many stellar former Penmen athletes.
 
Those wishing to nominate potential inductees may do so by e-mailing SNHU Director of Athletic Communications Eric Coplin at e.coplin@snhu.edu. An athlete becomes eligible for nomination to the Hall of Fame five years after their last date of competition at SNHU, where they must also have graduated from and competed for a minimum of two seasons. A faculty or staff member is also eligible five years after leaving SNHU, must have served the University for a minimum of five years and must have had an outstanding career with a direct and significant impact on athletics. Teams become eligible 10 years after competition and must have brought national recognition to SNHU.
 
The SNHU Athletic Hall of Fame, which currently has 111 individuals and two teams enshrined, honors those individuals who, through participation, support or interest have made outstanding contributions in the field of intercollegiate athletics and have brought recognition, honor, distinction and excellence to Southern New Hampshire University.
 
For the latest on Southern New Hampshire University athletics, follow the Penmen via social media on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Instagram. You can also sign up to receive text message alerts and e-mail newsletters about your favorite Penmen teams.