Donald Hitt

Nomination Form

Letters ofRecommendation

SHERANDO HIGH SCHOOL “WHERE ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE”

JOHN H. NELSON, PRINCIPAL 185 SOUTH WARRIOR DRIVE JOANNE E. ALTENDORF, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL STEPHENS CITY, VIRGINIA 22655 ELI JORDAN, DIRECTOR OF GUIDANCE KAREN L. MCCOY, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL (540) 869-0060 JASON BARBE, STUDENT ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR MICHAEL E. SMITH, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FAX (540) 869-5183 SUSAN SAYLOR, ASSISTANT COORDINATOR

November 13, 2015

To Whom It May Concern:

For more than three decades, Donald Hitt has been a dynamic and progressive leader in the arena of communication and performing arts within the state of Virginia. His contribution to competitive speech, debate, and theatre arts is immeasurable, having worked both in leadership positions to affect change in the programs in order to better the opportunities and experiences for our students and also having worked behind the scenes organizing tournaments, mentoring new coaches, and providing assistance to fledgling programs across the state.

As coach of all three events (forensic, debate, and one-act theatre competitions) at Madison County High School, Donald has built a reputation far exceeding the expectations one might have for a small school of fewer than seven hundred students. Despite a comparatively small school population, Mr. Hitt has cultivated one of the largest and most dedicated forensic teams in the state each year for more than two decades, consistently winning the team championship among the state’s Division A schools year after year. In addition to a superb competitive forensic squad, Mr. Hitt has also consistently advanced his school’s entry to the state finals in the one act play festival despite the limitations imposed by a small and, until recently, seriously outdated and under-equipped stage. Over the years of his involvement in the Madison County High School program, Mr. Hitt very effectively developed a far-reaching support system for his programs by generating community involvement and actively involving his students in community events to provide the necessary community awareness of the program and the benefits it provided to the students involved. Mr. Hitt’s emphasis on developing student skills that would benefit students as they moved from school to career, coupled with his deep desire to assist his students as they navigated the social, emotional, and financial pitfalls of their teenage years, created strong ties among his alumni, and they consistently return to assist with the program and provide judging services as repayment for the dedication which he has shown them over the course of their lives. In 2014, the National Speech and Debate Association recognized Mr. Hitt at its national tournament as a Triple Diamond Coach; only four Virginia coaches have ever attained that level of recognition, which is based entirely upon the cumulative achievements of the coach’s students.

Mr. Hitt’s contributions have not been limited to the Madison County High School community, nor to the Virginia High School League. For years Mr. Hitt has been actively involved in the state coaches’ association, as it evolved from the Virginia Association of Speech Coaches to the more inclusive Virginia Association of Speech, Debate, and Drama Coaches, serving as president of the association and working tirelessly to organize its annual conference designed to provide guidance and training in the fields of communication and performing arts. Within the Virginia High School League, Mr. Hitt spearheaded a movement to revamp the state forensic program and eliminate segregated events based upon gender while bringing the competition events and rules in line with national standards and precedents. Additionally, Mr. Hitt has served for many years on the governing committee of the Virginia District of the NSDA, organizing and managing the national qualifying tournaments in forensic and debate competition for that organization. Mr. Hitt has also taken a leadership role in the National Catholic Forensic League, providing guidance to the Virginia Catholic League, which serves students in more than half of the state. Repeatedly, Mr.

Hitt has offered his school as the site for various tournaments and arranged for local judges to be available to assist in those tournaments in order to facilitate the success of each league in which his team participated. Even post-retirement, Mr. Hitt has opted to extend his help to a local school which was without a forensic sponsor and has been diligently working to develop a program at that school.

Over the course of his career Donald Hitt has demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to the advancement of the communication and performing arts skills of Virginia students. On his own teams, winning has always been a secondary goal behind developing life skills that will benefit students as they move through their careers. His vision for the state has focused on improving the opportunities available to all students, and to that end he has graciously served as mentor to many new coaches and assisted programs that were struggling. Walk into any community within Madison County, Virginia, and ask a random citizen about the impact that Donald Hitt has had upon the lives of Madison County students, and the response will not be brief because over the thirty years Mr. Hitt has worked in Virginia, he has touched the lives of thousands of students, helping them to hone the skills that they use every day in their personal and professional lives. In many ways Donald Hitt is Virginia’s most valuable human resource, and he richly deserves national level recognition of the contribution he has made to our students.

Sincerely, Arch W. Painter Forensic and Debate Coach, Sherando High School Chairperson, Virginia District of the NSDA

            November 15, 2015    Hall of Fame Director National Federation of State High School Associations P. O. Box 690 Indianapolis, IN 46206  Re: Hall of Fame Nomination for Donald R. Hitt  Dear Committee Members:  While walking through the halls of Madison County High School, he was met with students, forensics and non‐forensics alike, cheering him on and wildly applauding. Why? Because he had just received notice of his third National Speech and Debate Diamond.  Don Hitt felt blessed by his reception, but I would suggest that his team and the forensics community have been blessed by his contributions and presence.  This letter is in support of The Virginia High School League and Lisa Giles's nomination of Don Hitt as the recipient of the National High School Hall of Fame honor and induction.   First, I have always known Don to go to great lengths to make forensics a part of the community, and vice versa. This was recently evident when he was able to have three of his students perform a comic readers theatre with the White House Band.  The Forensics group was invited by the State Theatre at the request of the White House to include local talent during the concert in Culpeper.   What a day to remember for those students, and what an experience for the musicians to bring back to the president himself! His team has entertained at functions within the county and has enthralled the halls of the high school itself. The MCHS team under the direction of Don Hitt has received four General Assembly commendations and Gubernatorial commendations from none less that two Virginia Governors.  Forensics is cool at MCHS.  Second, I can vouch for Don's commitment to excellence. A few months ago I saw a Facebook post of his asking his students to come in for practice, in tournament attire, on their only free Saturday of the month. They did, had fun, were fed to the gills, and developed a deeper respect for the kind of discipline that speech and debate demands.  Third, I read weekly of his team's successes. A powerhouse in the state of Virginia, winning all the major championships and many invitationals in the state. For three consecutive years Mr. Hitt's teams have won all three VCFL, the NSDA, and VHSL State Championships.   Madison County has risen to national excellence on more than many occasions, and while offering exact stats will be the job of another, I can vouch from judging his students that they have always been beyond well prepped and of national calibre. He has produced national finalist in NCFL and NFL over the extent of his career.   Fourth, I know Don as a contributor. I have served on many state and national committees and so has 

Don, especially in our sister league, The NCFL. And when I am stuck for thoughts on whatever committee I am on, he is the first I have always called. He is that incisive and that moderating.  Fifth, I know Don as a source of inspiration. Several years ago, his brilliant orator forgot her speech during her national final round performance. I remember being in the audience, as we could hear a pin drop, all of us praying for a quick restart which did not happen. After the round, after she received many hugs, and in front of me, the orator said she was thankful that Mr. Hitt instilled in her the poise and common sense to keep her composure. If anything she knew she would emerge with her dignity. And that she did and much more! She was amazing nonetheless. When Don saw her he led a resounding applause so that she would know she was a gem of a performer and a pearl of a gal.  Sixth, I know that Don, the person, is an absolute sweetheart. Who else but Don would suffer through enough physical hardships that could take down a house, yet still place his forensic students first? Who else but Don would send his Philly friend a $200.00 spa certificate when he has inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame? Only Don. And I will never forget his generosity!  And most of all his friendship!  We are all winners. True. I think Don Hitt is extra special. True. But most importantly, I know that Don Hitt is deserving of this honor because of his selfless devotion to our national speech community, to his school, and to his students. Please give him due consideration for this prestigious award.  Sincerely Tony Figliola Holy Ghost Prep 215 354 8734 

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