NHS Hall of Distinction inductees and their family members stand with Committee Chairman Anthony Testani after the first induction ceremony on August 30. (Photo by Sarah Genter)

NORWICH — The Norwich High School Hall of Distinction hosted its first induction ceremony in the Norwich High School Library on Saturday, August 30.

The NHS Hall of Distinction was established in 2024 and aims to recognize and honor Norwich High School alumni "who have made outstanding contributions in the areas of, but not limited to, profession, community service, commerce, religion, and art."
The 2025 inductees included fighter pilot, commercial aviator, and soaring champion Warren Eaton; county attorney, assemblywoman, and senator Janet Hill Gordon; United States Army veteran John "Jack" Lee; teacher, lawyer, and politician Clarence Rappleyea; environmental science and college professor Tommy Shedd; and founder of Colorscape Chenango Julie Borden.

Inductees and their families, family members of deceased inductees, and community members gathered in the Norwich High School Library to celebrate the honorees' achievements.

The ceremony included a welcome message by NCSD Superintendent Scott Ryan, a brief biography of each inductee, who were presented with certificates of distinction, followed by closing remarks from NHS Hall of Distinction Chairman Anthony Testani.

Additionally, a plaque will be placed in the Norwich High School listing current inductees. Future inductees will be added to the plaque.

The committee hopes to also install an interactive booth in the school, with which students can select individual inductees and read their full biographies.

Testani said he hopes the Hall of Distinction will continue to honor outstanding NHS alumni, while also inspiring today's students and showing them that they too can do great things.

"I think it’s a great way to honor those people from Norwich High School that made significant contributions in their chosen field," he said. "I think it can also serve as motivation for others in the community, especially those in school today. It can also bring a sense of pride to our school. Students will be able to see what other students from NHS have accomplished after leaving high school and hopefully feel they can accomplish something just as great."

The NHS Hall of Distinction is currently accepting nominations for the 2026 class of inductees. Nominees must have been a graduate of the Norwich City School District, with at least ten years since they graduated when the nomination is submitted.

Committee members will also consider nominees' achievements in their area of specialization; any awards, recognition, or honors they received on a local, regional, national, or international level; and service to the community in which they live or have lived.

"Criteria will be considered through a lens of global to local distinction. Success is defined so differently depending on who you are speaking with, and thus a great deal of our focus will zoom in on the impact of distinction," said Ryan.

Nomination forms can be found at NorwichCSD.org under Menu>Documents>District>FANS Nomination Form.

Completed nomination forms should be emailed to NHS Hall of Distinction Treasurer Rich Turnbull at rturnbull@norwichcsd.org, or dropped off at the District Office at 89 Midland Drive in Norwich. The deadline for nominations is June of 2026.

The NHS Hall of Distinction Committee consists of Chairman Anthony Testani, Secretary John Antonowicz, Treasurer Richard Turnbull, Kathleen Coates, Edward Erickson, Sarah Genter, Harry Graves, and Robert Jeffrey.