Nominations are due by midnight on February 1st CST each year for the nominations of that year.

SELECTION PROCESS

How to Make Your Nomination Better: Carefully review the required information, gather it together and complete the entire nomination. For question boxes please do not say, refer to or see attachments. Please also provide a total of (3) Recommendation letters and do not include them as part of the (8) Supporting Documents. Supporting Documents are those that tell a story about the individual. For your application to be chosen, detailed results need to be included that will make the person stand out. The examples of specific results and accomplishments achieved statewide and beyond will aid in the applicant being inducted.

The South Dakota Hall of Fame Board of Directors will review all timely and complete nominations. It is important to note that the Board reviews between 50 to 75 nominations per year. Each year up to ten individuals whose nomination represents the achievement of excellence with a statewide impact and beyond will be selected. Only one individual is allowed per a nomination. The selection criteria are based on the information provided in the nomination for an individual’s contributions in outstanding leadership, innovation, entrepreneur, achievement in their chosen category, and community.

Nominations are retained for three years. Nominators are encouraged to update their nomination for subsequent eligible years.  If the individual is not chosen in the initial three years, they have a two-year hiatus before being eligible to be nominated again. There is no limit on the number of times a person can be nominated, but individuals are only chosen once for induction into the South Dakota Hall of Fame.

Individuals selected for induction will be notified and announced in public press releases. Nominators and Inductees shall receive updates for their participation and activities leading up to and for the annual Honors Ceremony held the second Friday and Saturday in September. For 2026, the dates are September 11th and 12th.

Living Inductees, or for deceased (their designee), elected into the Hall of Fame must attend the two day ceremony. If the Inductee Candidate cannot commit to attending the Honors Ceremony in the given year, the Candidate will be given the option of being inducted at the Honors Ceremony the following year. If the Candidate cannot commit to attending the Honors Ceremony the following year, their candidacy will be null and void. They would need to be nominated again if they want to be reconsidered.

If Inductee Candidates commit to attending the Honors Ceremony and experience an extenuating circumstance, such as personal illness or illness or death of a close family member, the South Dakota Hall of Fame will work with them to devise a plan to induct them regardless of absence. Provisions such as videotaped acceptance speeches and relatives managing their display and presence at events will be considered in such circumstances.

The above Honors Ceremony attendance requirements also apply to heirs of deceased Inductee Candidates.