ELLSWORTH — Looking for a way to honor some of the people who have had massive impacts on the community, junior Maggie Pechacek set out to honor these people by creating the Ellsworth Hall of Fame for a service project.

With some inspiration from the Prescott Hall of Fame, Pechacek helped create a committee of 12 people to oversee applications and make inductions. Now, the time has come for people to be nominated.

The nomination process is open until Dec. 31, and the induction ceremony is March 22. Tickets for the ceremony will be available in January. The nomination process involves filling out a form that can be found on the district website, and the committee plans to induct a slightly larger class for the inaugural year and 2-3 members per year after the initial class. Applications will be kept on file for a number of years so nominees can be considered for multiple inductions.

The hall of fame will honor Ellsworth’s alumni, staff and community members who have had an impact on the village. Alumni become eligible for the honor after 10 years removed from graduation.

Maggie Pechacek and social studies teacher at Ellsworth High School Anne Pechacek have led the process that is now approaching its selection phase, and they are excited to have the opportunity to honor some of Ellsworth’s most impactful people.

“I was like it’s kind of weird that we don’t have one of those things,” Maggie Pechacek said. “I also think it’s just a good way to recognize people who’ve done good things.”

EHS Principal Oran Nehls is excited this idea is coming to life, shining a light on what is going on in the village.

“It’s just a great opportunity to recognize people for all the great things they’ve done,” Nehls said. “Too often it goes kind of overlooked.”

Nehls said what makes it special is that the people honored have led the lives they led not looking for recognition, but looking to do the right thing and better the community.

“Most people, in my time, when they get into hall of fames, they’re not looking to get into the hall of fame,” Nehls said. “They’re kind of very humbled that somebody nominated them or that people thought that well of them.”

The Ellsworth Hall of Fame is not a one-year project. The lasting impact community members are making will be rewarded with a lasting program to honor them.

Applications are available on the school website at https://www.ellsworth.k12.wi.us/page/hall-of-fame.