Nominations for the Grand Island Senior High School Hall of Honor are accepted throughout each year. The Hall of Honor Committee will review all submitted nominations and honor inductees every other year. We are excited to announce the Hall of Honor Banquet & Celebration will be held again on Tuesday, March 12, 2024.
The Hall of Honor, inaugurated in 1983, recognizes Grand Island Senior High School alumni who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the betterment of society. Nominees must have graduated more than 20 years ago from the high school.
Nomination Form
Online nominations are encouraged using the online form below. Email foundation@gips.org with questions.
Nominations due November 1
Paper nominations also accepted using the PDF below. Paper nomination forms must be returned to the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation, Attn: Kari Hooker-Leep, 123 S. Webb Rd., PO Box 4904, Grand Island, NE 68802.
Benjamin Avila
Class of 1972
Hall of Honor 1993
Benji, as his friends call him, has always been an active, loving son who pursued his goals with passion and vigor. The bigger the challenge, the better. In all his years, Benji has had a close relationship with his parents.
As a young man growing up, he participated in many of the traditional children’s activities such as the Kiwanis Kid’s Day Parade. As a young man, he was a compassionate citizen and a hard worker.
Benji once rented a Santa suit to provide Christmas gifts to children he knew would have little or nothing from Santa Claus.
In his high school years, he took his education and work seriously. One of his passions was music. He was actively involved in marching band in Senior High and at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He helped establish a scholarship program for Hispanic students.
Since graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Benji has worked as an assistant to the Dean of Education at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, and as an educational consultant for the Houston Public Schools. He is a noted leader in bilingual education.
