Larson, Hoffman, and Olson (Nolting) Elected to 2025 Shakopee High School Hall of Fame
By Bill Schleper
The Shakopee Alumni Association (SAA) met Tuesday, July 29, at Hometown Bank in Shakopee to choose the next inductees for the Shakopee High School Halls of Fame: the Athletic Hall of Fame — which honors the “best of the best” athletes to come out of Shakopee Public Schools — and the Shakopee High School Distinguished Hall of Fame, which honors highly successful, community-oriented alumni and supporters from every walk of life who have made a special difference within their own community. These are individuals who go above and beyond the norms and truly make a difference in the world.
Nominations are received via the SAA website throughout the year, with a cutoff deadline of June 30 for each year’s nominations. The SAA board members use a point system to create fairness and equality in judging candidates. Once the 2025 nominations were reviewed and scores tallied, it was clear that two individuals met the highest Athletic Hall of Fame standards, and one nominee stood out for her qualities and accomplishments in the Distinguished Hall of Fame category.
Drum roll, please!
The 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees are:
Nick Larson (Class of 2013)
Zak Hoffman (Class of 2012)
The 2025 Distinguished Hall of Fame inductee is:
Mary (Nolting) Olson (Class of 1968)
These individuals will be honored at the SAA’s annual Hall of Fame Banquet, to be held Friday, Sept. 26, at Turtle’s Banquet Center in downtown Shakopee. The date coincides with Shakopee High School’s Homecoming celebrations. Following the banquet, inductees and their guests will be invited to Shakopee High School for their plaque unveiling and photos, and will participate in the all-school Homecoming pep fest in the gymnasium. The celebration will conclude with halftime introductions during the Shakopee Homecoming football game that evening, as the Sabers take on the Osseo Orioles at 7 p.m.
History of the Shakopee High School Halls of Fame
In 1998, Activities Director John Anderson, with support from Principal Jim Murphy and Superintendent Bob Ostlund, created the Shakopee High School Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee. The inaugural Class of 1998 included Ellen Berens, Wayne Engelen, Dale Vaughan, Joe Schleper Sr., and Ann (Lodermeier) Johnson.
In fall 2013, the Shakopee Educational Endowment Foundation (SEEF) took over the selection process and created a Distinguished Hall of Fame to honor alumni who may or may not have participated in athletics but have brought recognition to Shakopee Public Schools through lifetime accomplishments and dedication to community service. SEEF managed the process for two years before the SAA assumed the role in 2015 and continued both the Athletic and Distinguished Halls of Fame.
Current Alumni Association President Pat Pass reports: “Including this year’s inductees, there are 34 members in the Distinguished Hall of Fame and 90 members in the Athletic Hall of Fame. Remember, the first 16 years featured only the Athletic Hall of Fame, with 24 athletes inducted since the SAA took over.”
How Are Hall of Fame Members Chosen?
Nomination forms are available on the Alumni Association webpage on the Shakopee School District’s website. Hall of Fame members must first be nominated by someone with knowledge of their past and present accomplishments. The more information provided on the nomination form, the better the odds of selection, as the committee uses a scoring system based on the accomplishments presented. Incomplete nomination forms lessen a nominee’s chance of selection.
How Are the SAA and Hall of Fame Banquet Funded?
The SAA budgets $4,000 to $6,000 annually for a first-class banquet, which includes plaques, food, and gifts for new Hall of Fame members. The SAA also maintains an Angel Fund to assist current students who may not be able to afford certain aspects of their high school experience. Through the Angel Fund, the SAA covers costs for prom tickets, yearbooks, special field trips, and other activities.
In addition, the SAA has contributed a $1,000 college scholarship each year through the Dollars for Scholars program. Funding is privately raised through committee-run fundraisers, such as meat raffles, and through donations from alumni and community members. Contributions have ranged from just a few dollars to several thousand.
According to Pass, tax-deductible donations are needed every year to keep the Halls of Fame going. Donations can be mailed to the Shakopee Alumni Association or dropped off at the Shakopee School District Office, 1200 Shakopee Town Square, Shakopee, MN 55379. All donations should specifically state “Shakopee Alumni Association” to ensure funds are kept separate from district accounts.
Donations can also be made via PayPal. Donors are encouraged to specify whether their contribution should go toward the general fund (Hall of Fame banquet costs, etc.) or the Angel Fund (current student needs and scholarships).