Sports immortality is approaching for a few deserving individuals following the closing of UNCW’s Athletic Hall of Fame nominations on Sept. 5.

The UNCW Athletic Hall of Fame has received all of its nominations for the upcoming, bi-annual induction ceremony on Jan. 27, 2018. Senior Associate Athletic Director Joe Browning, creator of the hall of fame, says that the selection committee is in the process of narrowing down their nominations ahead of the ceremony.

When the hall of fame was created in 1998, the university held a ceremony each of the first three years to make up for lost time. Browning says that the committee since decided to select three to five nominees in a bi-annual pattern in order to, “make it more elite and meaningful.”

The criteria for the hall of fame has “a lot of weight put on what they do here,” said Browning.

Post-graduate and community works hold weight as well in determining induction to the hall of fame. A student-athlete must leave the school in good standing, and an administrator or coach must have held their position of nomination for at least five years, following a five-year removal from the school to be eligible for nomination.

The UNCW Athletic Hall of Fame is also approaching its 20th anniversary in 2018. Being the creator of the hall, Browning knows the importance and impact the UNCW Athletic Hall of Fame brings to the university and the community.

“It’s always wonderful to see the people who contributed to our athletic success return and be recognized,” said Browning. “It means a lot because it takes a lot of individuals to build the foundation of success, from the administration to coaches, student-athletes, and benefactors.”

The induction ceremony will take place in January with a luncheon and ceremony that afternoon. That Saturday night, the inductees will be presented during halftime of the men’s basketball game against William & Mary.

Browning said that the committee requires the inductees to be there or else their induction will be postponed to the next cycle. Browning cites that it means more to the university, athletic department, community, and the individuals of the hall of fame to see their inductees at the ceremony.

The UNCW Hall of Fame ceremony has been said to captivate all the hard work that the committee and the inductees have put in to reach that milestone.

“It’s an enjoyable time for their families,” said Browning. “I hear inductees say so many times how great it is to be back on campus and renew their old college memories.”