Saturday night was a night of laughter and love as Starr’s Mill inducted its 2024 Hall of Fame class.
Inductees included former athletes Allison (Graham) Ripley, Donald Lambing, and Austin Enriquez, along with the voice of Starr’s Mill Mike Houghtaling and former principal Sam Sweat.
“It was a great honor to be inducted,” Sweat said. “[I] am just so proud of what we did, and Starr’s Mill and what it has become.”
The event kicked off the night before as the Panthers took on the Central Carrollton Lions at home in a thrilling game that ended with the Lions missing a game-tying field goal as time expired. Starr’s Mill won 38-35 and remains undefeated.
Inductees were recognized before the game. The evening continued with a meal beneath the pavilion and time to reminisce and embrace memories and legacies made.
Saturday’s banquet was hosted in the McIntosh Ballroom at the Hilton Peachtree City Atlanta Hotel and Conference Center in Peachtree City. Family, friends, faculty, current administrators, and coworkers all came together to support this year’s inductees and celebrate all they have during and after their time at Starr’s Mill.
“It’s not just athletes,” selection committee member and retired science teacher Dan Gant said. “It can be things they have done outside Starr’s Mill.”
Following this year’s banquet the Hall of Fame selection committee will meet about the event, discuss ways to improve next year’s selection process and banquet, and begin considering potential inductees. They will open a form where anyone can send recommendations of people who would be eligible to be inducted. Once that form is closed, the committee will go through the list and narrow it down to about three to five people and start reaching out to them.
When looking at who should be inducted, the committee not only looks at athletes but also, former faculty, volunteers, or any students who have made an impact on the school.
The form to recommend people for the Hall of Fame opens in January or February 2025 and closes in late summer. Look for additional updates on the Starr’s Mill website or its social media.