The Alaska Schools Activities Association (ASAA) has announced the selection of the Alaska High School Hall of Fame Class of 2018 with 13 new members to be inducted in a formal ceremony on April 29th in Anchorage.
Daniel Gensel & Allan Howard: Lifetime Achievement
Daniel Gensel and Allan Howard, both with strong ties to central peninsula schools, the Kenai Peninsula School District and athletics and activities on a regional and state level; have been selected as members of the Alaska High School Hall of Fame in the Lifetime Achievement category for their “outstanding contributions to high school activities, exemplary career and service to their community”. (See individual biographies contained within the report.)
Criteria for Lifetime Achievement Category
• Someone that qualifies in several categories
• Five years following retiring from interscholastic service.
• Evidence of an outstanding career.
• Must have had a direct and significant impact on high school athletics and/or activities.
• Example; an outstanding athlete that became a coach, an official and a principal.
ASAA Hall of Fame: Introductory Statement
As part of its 50th anniversary in 2006, Alaska School Activities
Association (ASAA) initiated the Alaska High School Hall of Fame to
“identify and honor in a permanent manner, those individuals who
have exhibited high ethical standards and integrity while achieving
excellence in high school athletics and activities in the state of Alaska;
as well as others who have distinguished themselves by virtue of
exemplary contributions to the advancement of interscholastic athletics
and activities in the state.”
The induction of these outstanding individuals and organizations for the Class of 2018
will mark the 13th year of the Hall of Fame.
Class of 2018: Alaska High School Hall of Fame
Athlete
Cameron Severson, Petersburg: Basketball
Daryn Colledge, North Pole: Football and Baseball former NFL player
Kyle Fossman, Haines High School: Basketball. Cross Country Running and Track & Field
Leah Francis, Juneau-Douglas High School: Track & Field and Cross Country Running
Talisa Rhea, Juneau: Basketball and Soccer
Officials
Jack Renn: Basketball, Football and Softball
Ron Henderson: Basketball and Football
Activity Participant
Andrew Vait, Homer High School: Musician
Activity Sponsors (three music teachers)
Mark Robinson Choral Director at Homer High School for 23 years
Robert Hutton, Band Director for Hoonah Schools for 32 years
William Searle: Band Director at Homer High School for 24 years
Lifetime Achievement
Daniel Gensel: Athlete, Coach, Administrator, Volunteer and Broadcaster
Allan Howard: Administrator & Volunteer
2018 Alaska High School Hall of Fame News Release:Click Here!
Summary of Daniel Gensel’s nomination and induction qualifications
Daniel Gensel is a lifetime Alaskan; 1975 graduate of Kenai Central High School; Soldotna High School teacher (1980-99), coach (1980 – current as head, assistant and volunteer); administrator at Soldotna High School (athletic director and activities director); and has dedicated time and efforts to youth of the Kenai Peninsula and the state of Alaska since 1980.
High School Athlete
1975 KCHS Athlete of the Year
3-Sport Letterman: Football, Basketball and Track & Field
4-time Region III Track Champion; twice 100 yard dash and twice 180 yard hurdles
Coaching & Administrative Career @ Soldotna High School
19 years coaching basketball; 30+ years coaching track & field
Soldotna High Lady Stars Basketball 1987-99
202 Varsity victories: Most wins for a SoHi basketball coach (girls or boys)
Average 17 wins per season for 12 years (1987-99)
4A State Champions 1993 First state championship for SoHi
Soldotna High Track & Field
1980-current: head coach, assistant coach, volunteer assistant, event coach and meet volunteer
Head coach for SoHi girls first state runner-up 1983
Assistant coach and volunteer assistant throughout SoHi regional and state tournament
accomplishments (1981-2002, 2006-2017).
Soldotna High Athletic Director (81-83), Activities Director (1995-99)
Contribution to Interscholastic Activities: Broadcasting
Sports Broadcasting through KSRM Radio Group
KSRM Radio Group Sports Director producing over 4,500 high school live sports broadcasts
17 Alaska Broadcasters Association “Goldie Awards” for KSRM radio and sports coverage
Providing radio coverage to stations throughout Alaska
Contribution to Interscholastic Activities: ASAA, Regional, Borough & Local
Volunteer services and expertise to local tournament events, regional and state championships
Volunteer coaching to camps, clinics and practice sessions
Community & School Related Awards
1993 Soldotna High School Golden Apple Award– Outstanding Teacher
1993 Soldotna Chamber of Commerce- Devoted Service To Youth (Progress Days King
& Queen [Kathy Gensel])
1999 Kenai Peninsula Borough School District-Golden Apple Award for Service to the
Students of KPBSD
1999 Region III – Certificate of Appreciation for 19 years of Outstanding Service
2003 Kenai Peninsula Borough School District-Golden Apple Award for Community
Service to Youth
2008 ASAA Gold Lifetime Pass– Significant Service to High School Students (Region
III)
2012 Soldotna Chamber of Commerce- Devoted Service to Youth Award
Summary of Allan Howard’s nomination and induction qualifications
Athletic Director: Soldotna High School
Soldotna High School 1986-2007
Coordinating and supervising all athletics, including: scheduling, contests, athletes and coaches, eligibility, building and facilities, all aspects of SoHi athletic programs
Organize and supervise invitational, borough, regional and state tournaments and athletic events.
Coaching History in Alaska
Seldovia (Susan B. English): Track & Field
Tournament Director History
Alaska State Hockey Championships: 7 times
Alaska State 3A Basketball: 2 times
SoHi hosting Small School Football Semi-Final
Region III Tournaments: 1986-2007
Track & Field, Wrestling, Basketball, Hockey, Volleyball, Soccer, Swimming & Diving
Invitational & Borough Tournaments
Region Basketball @ Seldovia
Volunteer History: Local, Regional & State
Pre-Retirement
Multiple tournaments in multiple sports at multiple levels
State Track & field, State Wrestling
Multiple Region tournaments
Multiple Borough Championships
Board of Control for multiple events
Post-Retirement: 2009-Current
ASAA State championships for Football, Track & Field, Wrestling and Basketball
Alaska Athletic Honors
2002 Alaska “State Award of Merit” from National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Associaition
SoHi boys basketball tournament renamed: Al Howard SoHi Boys Tip-Off Basketball Tournament
Professional Associations
KPSAA Executive Board 2001-2008
AIAAA First President
NIAAA 15 years
ASAA Executive Board Region III Representative (past President and Vice-President)
