Olympia School District proudly announces the Olympia High School Hall of Fame Class of 2023 inductees! These distinguished individuals will be introduced at half-time of the boys’ basketball game on Friday January 27th. – The varsity game will begin at approximately 7:00pm
This year’s inductees are:
Ron Nixon was a 1977 valedictorian graduate of Olympia High School. While in high school Ron was involved in many activities and clubs. Ron was a terrific performer and was involved in many plays during high school. Ron was also involved in chorus, student council, The Torch, NHS, and Speech. One of his biggest accomplishments was in 1976-77 when he placed 6th in the State Speech competition in verse reading. After high school, he attended Illinois Wesleyan University, where he joined the Sigma Chi fraternity and Actors Guild. After graduating from Illinois Wesleyan in 1977, Ron moved to Chicago, where he was a member of the Actors Guild and performed in many childrens’ theaters in the Chicago area. He was a realtor and a member of the Chicago Board of Realtors.
Jane Richter is a 1974 graduate of Olympia high school. During her high school years at Oly she was involved in marching band, choir, jazz band, pit band, concert band, and pep band. Jane was the first president of the Olympia Music Club and received first-place awards at Solo and Ensemble contests. She was the recipient of the John Phillips Sousa Award in 1974. After high school, Jane attended Illinois State University where she was a member of the Tau Beta Sigma Band Sorority, Big Red Machine Marching Band, Varsity Band, University Band, Jazz & Pep Band. Jane was also the student representative to District 3 of Music Educators National Conference, Band Librarian , and secretary of bands. After college, Jane taught in the Olympia Schools District for 34 years. Over the course of her career she taught vocal and instrumental music to grades K-8 and provided many enrichment opportunities for the students. While teaching, Jane instilled a sense of teamwork, problem solving, school spirit, and self esteem in the students. After retiring from Olympia, Jane now resides in Bloomington with her husband.
A 2016 graduate of Olympia High School, Collin Schopp was involved in numerous activities. He was a member of the Speech Team, Chamber & Jazz Choir, Group Interp, plays, musicals, madrigals (building the drawbridge set), Marching Band, Pep Band, Concert Band, and Student Council. One of Collin’s greatest accomplishments was taking 2nd place in Radio Speaking at the 2015-16 State Speech Competition, and he also built the drawbridge set for the Madrigal dinner. After graduating from Olympia, Collin attended Augustana College. In his four years there, Collin was involved in Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Theater, Heywire Improv, Outside the Box Sketch Comedy, and the Augustana Observer. Currently, Collin works as a reporter for WCBU Peoria Public Radio.
Connor Stine is a 2015 graduate of Olympia High School. While attending Olympia, Connor was very successful in track and cross country. He was a three-sport athlete from his Freshman-Junior year. He was a state qualifier in track and cross country every year from 6th grade through his senior year. Connor was All-State in the 800-meter run in 2014 and the 4-by-800 relay in 2013 and 2014. He was the state champion in the 800-meter run in 2015. After High school, Connor attended Wichita State University, where he was captain of the Track and Cross Country Teams and the American Conference Rep of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. After graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2019 from Wichita State, Connor came back to Olympia to substitute teach and coach Cross Country and Track. Also, while attending Northwestern Health Sciences University, Connor was named the Functional Medicine Club President as well as Rehab 2 Performance Club President. Connor will be finishing up Chiropractic school and will be beginning his career in 2024.
Before David Stine began his contribution to the Olympia School district, he attended El Paso High School. When David was in high school, he participated in football, basketball, and track. He set school records in the 3200-meter relay and the 800-meter run. The 3200m relay team also placed 7th in state during his senior year. After graduating from El Paso in 1986, Dave went on to Illinois State University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1990. Dave started teaching and coaching at Olympia in 1990. He coached football from 1990-1994, Middle School track from 1990-1996, and boys high school track from 1997 to present day. Dave was also the assistant XC country for the HS boys and girls teams from 2008-2022. During his 15 years of coaching XC, Olympia athletes acquired the following IHSA awards: 11 Individual state medals (5 boys, 6 girls), 4 regional champion plaques (3 boys, 1 girl), 3 sectional champion plaques (2 boys, 1girl), and one boys state trophy. From 1998-2022 the Olympia Boys Track program earned 12 state placing relays, 30 individual state placers, 7 sectional champion plaques, and in 2009 a state team trophy for a total of 78 medals earned! Additional accomplishments during Stine’s coaching career at Olympia include a Corn Belt title in 2003 and 11 school records. David will retire at the end of the 2023 school year, having dedicated 33 years to Olympia high school. He will leave an everlasting impact on the Olympia School district.