On Friday April 11, the renovated high school building witnessed its first Gallery of Success ceremony.

The ceremony historically takes place every three years. But due to the renovation over the past few years, the inductions were delayed to this year.

The first Gallery of Success ceremony took place in 1985 and Paula Rollins, volunteer coordinator for the Gallery, has been organizing the event for 11 years.

“I am a coordinator. That means I am in charge of the three processes: nomination, selection and induction.”

Doug Levin, director of marketing and development for the Beachwood City Schools, helped Rollins throughout those three steps.

“I managed the details related to the induction day itself,” Levin wrote in an email.

Rollins explained that anyone who has graduated from BHS can be nominated for the Gallery of Success. Nominees must submit a packet full of pictures, testimonials, publications and letters of recommendation. The only restriction is that one cannot nominate a relative.

Once the committee receives the submissions, usually 40-50 packets, the selection process begins. Rollins said she tries to get a diverse group of 20 people to join the selection committee.

Rollins identified three things the committee was looking for: “Courage or humanitarianism…” she said, “…a career that benefits other people, it’s not just what your job is, it’s something above and beyond the normal everyday thing.”

The selection committee agrees on a maximum of 10 inductees.

While Levin and Rollins are contacting the inductees, they must also plan the actual weekend.

On Friday, the day was packed with activities.

“We do a continental breakfast in the morning,” Rollins said. “This is for the inductees and their guests, [as well as] the administration. The [student escorts] greet them right in the front hall. [The inductees] then got interviewed by the TV production class. After that, there is the assembly, then there is a luncheon … After that is the meet and greet in the afternoon.”

On Saturday, the Beachwood Schools Foundation hosted an event dedicated to the inductees. This year, the event was held at Temple Tifereth-Israel.

As attendees walked in, there was a soft yellow light, and guests were welcomed by sophomore Paul Corty and senior Josh Harf, who played Vivaldi’s double-cello concerto in G minor.

The room was set up elegantly with hostesses and a red carpet. Between two rows of white and gold balloons, guests mingled at tall tables covered in a black cloth, with the inductees spread  across the room.

Servers circulated the room with hors d’oeuvres and champagne. People were laughing, joking and of course, remembering.

Inductees shared fond memories of their time at BHS with The Beachcomber.

Inductee Michael Abrams, a NASA geologist, wrote in an email that he remembers BHS fondly.

“My favorite memories include senior biology class…” he wrote. “… also, being statistician for the football and basketball teams.”

Inductee Judi Feniger, an arts and fundraising executive, said some of her favorite memories are ordinary things.

“English, Spanish and choir…  lunch in the cafeteria, the level of noise and energy only allowed there,” she said, “football and basketball games…introduction to classic books and thinking for myself… homecoming and prom… much laughter, some teen angst and the concept of time as endless.”

Levin said one of his favorite parts of being involved in the process was meeting the inductees.

“I was most impressed with the humility of the inductees,” he wrote. “Each felt extremely honored to be recognized and to be back at BHS, and they each expressed their gratitude for the students’ hospitality during the day.”

According to Rollins, the event could not have gone better.

“I thought it went great,” she said. “Seeing it all come together, as far as I was concerned, it was a perfect day. You’re coordinating all these little things and when you see it come together as this big thing, it was wonderful.”