On the morning of Saturday, January 8, Indiana University Northwest held a ribbon cutting for Indiana University Northwest Athletics’ brand-new Hall of Champions. The exhibit was made possible by the generous donations made by Terry and Karen McMahon, two passionate supporters of Indiana University Northwest Athletics. The display commemorates both players and entire teams who have excelled in their athletic performance during their time in the Indiana University Northwest Athletics program. The ribbon cutting was preceded by brunch and the induction ceremony for the Hall of Fame Class of 2024. This was the first induction ceremony since 2018 and marks the 11th anniversary of the Hall of Fame’s creation.
Until now, there was no physical manifestation of Indiana University Northwest’s Athletics Hall of Fame. Ryan Shelton, director of athletics at Indiana University Northwest, considers the Hall of Champions to be an excellent way to tangibly memorialize the accomplishments of the university’s athletes.
“We really wanted the Hall of Champions and the Athletics Hall of Fame to align with each other,” Shelton said. “We wanted to make sure we had an appropriate way to recognize the inductees before we brought in the 2024 induction class. So we put together the Hall of Champions, which helps us celebrate the past accomplishments of Indiana University Northwest athletes and inspire future generations of great RedHawk athletes. None of this would be possible if it weren’t for the McMahons’ philanthropic spirit and the campus leadership’s belief in our student-athletes.”
Karen McMahon and Terry McMahon were inducted for their philanthropic contributions to Indiana University Northwest. After connecting with Shelton in 2008, Terry McMahon, a former Indiana University Northwest men’s basketball student-athlete, and Karen McMahon went on to help fund the Savannah gymnasium renovation, the purchase of Ford Transit vans for the university’s sports teams, and, most recently, the establishment of the Hall of Champions.
The 2009-2010 Indiana University Northwest women’s basketball team was also inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame as well. They became the first team in Indiana University Northwest history to win the first conference championship and make it into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Tournament after an historic 24-12 run and a 10-game winning streak.
Sharon Houston, the most decorated athlete in Indiana University Northwest athletics history, also received her own induction into the Athletics Hall of Fame. As a four-time NAIA All-American, Houston established herself as the most prominent player on the 2009-2010 women’s basketball team. Her records of 2,784 points, 1,722 rebounds, and 498 blocks, remain unbroken to this day.
Houston is deeply honored to have been inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame and looks forward to lending encouragement to future generations of RedHawk athletes.
“I feel very blessed and grateful right now,” Houston said. “I'm just grateful for my teammates and a great coach. I played the game because I loved it, and that’s what matters. This has been my dream since elementary school. I am blessed to be able to say that my dreams have become a reality. I want to encourage young athletes to avoid going against the grain and keep doing what they love to do. I would also tell them to keep their grades up because, when they’re done hooping, they’ll need something to fall back on. They also need to remember to be a great teammate, someone their teammates can look up to and count on.”
The Hall of Champions is located on the second floor of the university’s Savannah Center and features plaques displaying the names of the inductees as well as All-American jerseys of several of Indiana University Northwest’s most accomplished athletes. It also displays photographs of several RedHawk teams that have excelled in their athletic performance in recent years. The Hall of Champions also features two interactive screens that allow visitors to learn more about the inductees’ stats and careers.
Shelton predicts that the Hall of Champions will prove very beneficial to the culture of Indiana University Northwest in the coming years.
“It’s unbelievable to see how the Hall of Champions has been impacting people in a positive way,” Shelton said. “When the players come back and see their names and their teammates being displayed on the interactive screen, they feel like they’re a part of something special. It also shows them that they are a part of the successes taking place today. It brings the past and future together quite beautifully. Athletics brings people together and I hope that everyone feels connected through the bond of athletics today.”
You can learn more about IU Northwest’s courses and upcoming events by visiting northwest.iu.edu.