After nearly a decade on hiatus, the Prior Lake High School Hall of Fame has been restored with the help of Prior Lake Activities Director Jeff Marshall and the Laker Hall of Fame committee. 

The Prior Lake Hall of Fame honors alumni and staff who have graduated or been retired for ten or more years. Anyone can nominate someone who they feel has impacted and inspired the students and staff of Prior Lake High School while they were here. 

The Prior Lake Hall of Fame committee members include retired and current staff, community members, and alumni. Their role is to meet and organize events together but most importantly narrow down the list of nominations.

Assistant Activities Director, Beth Fuller said, “Eight to ten years ago it stopped. They weren’t getting enough nominations and so they felt like they had inducted everybody that had a nomination for the most part.” 

Jeff Marshall took on the role of Prior Lake High School’s activities director in 2021. This year, he decided to reintroduce the Laker Hall of Fame.

“It took a lot of time, hard work, and planning by the committee and also thoughtful nominations from our community,” said Prior Lake High School math teacher and Hall of Fame committee member Janean Mestnik. 

Each inductee was recognized with their name and a small description of their achievements announced at this year’s homecoming football game on September 29th. The winners will receive a plaque with their photo and a description of their accomplishments from their years as a Laker. These plaques will hang outside the high school auditorium next to all the other Laker Hall of Fame members.

This year’s inductees include Dr. Megan Braneland (class of 2005), Tamra Braun (class of 2003), Dorothy Nicholas (retired Staff), Carol Ottoson (retired Staff), John F. Schmidt (retired Staff), Dave Thomas (retired Staff), Terri Thomas (retired Staff), Ben Wartman (class of 2007), and 2003 Girls’ State Basketball Team (team of distinction).

These winners will also be mentioned in the local Prior Lake and Savage newspapers.

A banquet was held on September 30th at Legends Golf Club to celebrate the new additions to the hall of fame. This event was planned to recognize the winners in a more official way for their selection to the Laker Hall of Fame. 

“Each inductee will have another person that introduces them and kind of tells their story a little bit, and then they will have the opportunity to speak just to their induction and say thank you and what it meant to them,” Fuller said.