09/17/2026
The tables are set. The programs are ready. The stories are waiting to be celebrated.
Today, more than 25 volunteers came together to put the finishing touches on a very special day for Goddard Public Schools.
Students, Hall of Fame Planning Committee members, Goddard Education Foundation Trustees, Community Relations staff and interns, and other volunteers worked side-by-side to create the beautiful spaces and experiences that will welcome our Goddard Hall of Fame, Class of 2026 honorees, their families, friends, and guests tomorrow at Pathway Church.
From setting tables and preparing programs to arranging displays and working through all of the final details, so many hands have helped make this celebration possible. Thank you to every volunteer who gave their time and talents to help us honor the people and stories that have shaped Goddard Public Schools.
But today was also a reminder of why we do this.
During a break for lunch, our volunteers had the opportunity to get a first look at the Hall of Fame honoree videos that will be shared during tomorrow's celebration. Among those watching were current Goddard High School students and our Community Relations interns, young people who are just beginning to imagine where their own lives might take them.
That is an important part of the purpose of the Goddard Hall of Fame. We celebrate the accomplishments of generations who came before us, but we also share their stories to inspire the generations who will come next.
We want today's students to see themselves in these stories. Our honorees once sat in Goddard classrooms, walked these same hallways, learned from Goddard educators, and wondered what their futures might hold. Their journeys remind our students that where they begin does not define how far they can go, and that someday, their stories may inspire the generation that follows them.
And now, we are ready!
Tomorrow, Friday, September 18, we will celebrate the Goddard Public Schools Hall of Fame Class of 2026:
Dan Buchanan
Dr. Mary Cohen (Shinogle)
Jerry Longabaugh
Dr. Michael Vivion
Dr. Christopher Warren
HALL OF FAME BRUNCH & INDUCTION CEREMONY
Pathway Church of Goddard
Brunch & Registration: 10:00 a.m.
Induction Ceremony: 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Guests will enjoy a delicious brunch prepared by Heart of Country Catering and served by Goddard and Eisenhower High School students as we share the stories, accomplishments, and lasting impact of our 2026 honorees.
HALL OF FAME TAILGATE
Goddard High School
5:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Join us for Chick-fil-A, snacks, beverages, memorabilia, and an opportunity to reconnect with alumni, retired staff, friends, and members of our before the Goddard and Eisenhower football game.
EISENHOWER VS. GODDARD
FOOTBALL GAME
District Stadium
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Hall of Fame Recognition: Beginning of halftime, approximately 7:45 to 8:00 p.m.
For 142 years, generations of students, educators, families, and community members have helped write the story of Goddard Public Schools. Tomorrow, we have the privilege of celebrating five remarkable people whose lives and service have become part of that story.
The Hall of Fame is more than a recognition of accomplishment. It is an opportunity to honor our past, reconnect generations of our , and, perhaps most importantly, show the next generation of USD 265-Goddard Public Schools graduates what is possible.
There is still time to join us! Come celebrate these remarkable honorees and the legacy and future of Goddard Public Schools with us tomorrow.
Purchase tickets for the Hall of Fame at: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/20haofam/event/2026halloffameevent/
