Halls of fame · For middle school principals, activities directors and counselors
A middle school hall of fame that shows students where it can start
Middle school is where a lot of stories begin. Recognize former students, teams, competitors and staff on one touchscreen, with stories written so an eleven-year-old will actually read them.
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What is a middle school hall of fame?
A middle school hall of fame is a display that honors former students, teams, academic competitors and staff from a school’s middle grades, usually placed where students gather between classes. HistoryShowcase lets a middle school build it as a touchscreen site with picture-first collections, short summaries younger readers can manage and a fuller biography behind each name.
Updated
- Made for
- Middle school principals, activities directors and counselors
- Where schools put it
- Cafeteria entrance, Main office lobby, Library
- Layouts
- Portrait gallery, Pennant, Honors ledger, Profiles
- Visitors can filter by
- Activity, Year
- Cost
- Free to use. No payment details required.
The years before high school count too
Middle schools rarely get a hall of fame. Trophies from the eighth grade league sit on a shelf in the gym office, spelling bee winners get a line in the newsletter, and when a former student goes on to do something remarkable, the high school claims the story. Students in the hallway now have no idea that someone from their own lunch table years ago went on to compete in college, design bridges or teach in this building.
A middle school hall of fame keeps those stories where they started. It honors achievement at this age, the teams, competitions and acts of character, and it follows former students forward with short profiles that say what they did here and what came next. Write the summaries at a level your sixth graders can read, and the display becomes something students choose to explore between classes.
How does a middle school hall of fame compare with a trophy shelf?
| What matters | A trophy shelf | HistoryShowcase |
|---|---|---|
| What it holds | Trophies and plaques from team titles | Students, teams, competitors and staff with stories |
| Where it sits | Often a gym office or case | A touchscreen in a busy hallway |
| Former students’ later paths | Rarely part of a trophy | Short profiles on what came next |
| Reading level | Engraved names and years | Summaries written for younger readers |
| Physical keepsakes | Real trophies students can see | Photos of trophies inside each profile |
What fits a middle school hall
Former students who went on
A short profile for each one: what they did here, where they went next and the path in between.
Eighth grade league champions
Team photos and rosters for league titles in every sport your school offers at this level.
Academic competitions
Spelling bee, geography bee, math competitions, science olympiad and quiz bowl winners, listed by year.
Character and citizenship awards
Students recognized for kindness, leadership and service, so the hall rewards more than scores and wins.
Staff who shaped the school
Long-serving teachers, coaches, counselors and custodians that generations of students remember by name.
A simple structure for a middle school hall
Keep it short and visual. Younger visitors browse by picture first, so lean on portrait and banner layouts.
Your siteHall of Fame
- Where are they nowPortrait gallery
Former students, with the year they finished eighth grade.
- Team championsPennant
League and tournament titles shown as banners.
- Academic winnersHonors ledger
Competition, winner and year in clean rows.
- Staff honorsProfiles
Years at the school and what students remember them for.
Visitors can narrow it by
- Activity
- Year
How do you start a middle school hall of fame?
Ask the people who remember
Teachers who have been here longest know the names. Collect them in a shared spreadsheet, one row per honoree, and import it.
Write for young readers
Keep each summary to a few short sentences. Save the detail for the biography and add photos students will recognize.
Try it the way students will
Preview it on the touchscreen, test the visitor settings for larger text and reduced motion, then publish for students to explore.
Where should a middle school hall of fame go?
- Cafeteria entranceStudents line up there every day with a few minutes to spare.
- Main office lobbyNew families touring the school see what former students have gone on to do.
- LibraryA quieter spot where students can read full profiles.
Middle school hall of fame questions
Who belongs in a middle school hall of fame?
Whoever your school decides. A common mix is former students recognized for later achievements, teams and competitors honored for what they did here, and staff who served for years.
Should we include current students?
That is your call. You can keep the hall for former students and staff, and recognize current students in a separate collection on the same site, such as a yearly awards section.
We have almost no records. Where do we start?
Start with the trophy shelf, old yearbooks and the staff who have been here longest. Add the first honorees with a name, year and short summary, and fill in more as you find it.
Can the high school link to it?
Yes. The published site has its own web address, so the high school, the district or your own school website can link to it.
Related ideas
Show students it started right here
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