What is a Digital Hall of Fame? The Complete Guide for High School Athletic Directors

Walk through any high school gym or athletic hallway and you’ll likely see a familiar sight — rows of plaques, framed photos, and an overcrowded trophy case showcasing decades of athletic achievements.

But these days, you might also see something new: an interactive touchscreen display showcasing even more athlete achievements, photos, and stories. 

As traditional halls of fame become increasingly limited by space, time, and accessibility, many schools are turning to digital hall of fame solutions — also called digital walls of fame, interactive hall of fame displays, or touchscreen halls of fame — to preserve legacy, engage alumni, and celebrate achievements in a dynamic new way.

But what exactly is a digital hall of fame, and how can it transform recognition for your athletics program?

In this guide, we’ll explore what a digital hall of fame is, key digital hall of fame features, and why these interactive trophy cases are quickly becoming the future of school and athletic recognition.

What is a digital hall of fame?

A digital hall of fame is a modern, interactive recognition system that replaces traditional plaques and trophies with a dynamic digital experience.

Using touchscreen displays, touchscreen kiosks, or web-based platforms, schools can showcase athletes, inductees, and achievements through photos, videos, bios, and highlight reels — all updated in real time.

These systems can exist both physically (as a digital wall of fame display in a hallway) and virtually (on your school’s website), making recognition accessible anytime, anywhere.

Key features of a digital hall of fame

There are a few crucial features that define a digital hall of fame. 

1. Interactivity

Most digital halls of fame use hardware such as touchscreen displays or kiosks that allow visitors to interact with the hall of fame in real time. 

Visitors can use the touchscreen hall of fame to browse achievements, search for inductees, watch videos, and more. 

The interactivity of a digital hall of fame allows visitors to customize their experience and engage with school history beyond just looking at a plaque on the wall.

2. Embedded videos, photos, and other multimedia content

Digital halls of fame allow you to share more with your community than just a name on a plaque or the year on a trophy. You can showcase unlimited photos of your athletes and teams, highlight videos, news clips, and more.

Many digital hall of fame providers also have the capability of embedding websites and PDFs, so your community can explore your athletics schedules or browse digitized versions of your yearbooks, all from the interactive touchscreen. 

3. Web & mobile accessibility 

Digital halls of fame should be accessible both on interactive touchscreen devices on campus as well as online.

Most digital hall of fame providers generate custom links to your school’s touchscreen awards display  that are shareable through social media, email, your website, and more. That way, your fans can explore your digital hall of fame from anywhere, not just your hallways.

4. Cloud-based content management systems

Unlike wall plaques that take weeks to create and install, a digital hall of fame can be updated in minutes. Most digital hall of fame providers offer self-service content management systems that allow any athletic director, secretary, or other staff member to go in and update content in real-time. 

Why are schools moving to digital halls of fame?

Traditional forms of recognition like wall plaques or trophy cases are becoming increasingly limited and frustrating to update. There are a number of reasons why high schools across the country are switching to digital halls of fame.

1. Space & scalability

Traditional halls of fame are physically limited. Trophy cases and wall space fills up fast. When athletic directors run out of room, they have to decide which accomplishments to showcase, leaving some history to be forgotten.

A digital hall of fame display offers unlimited space and easy updates, freeing schools from physical constraints and time-consuming processes.

2. Storytelling & engagement

Plaques and trophies display names and dates, but there’s rarely room to include anything more.

A touchscreen awards display allows you to tell your full story. Viewers can explore full athlete bios, view a complete slideshow of photos, and watch historic highlight reels all from the touchscreen display. As a result, your community can form a deeper connection with your athletic program.

3. Accessibility & reach

Only those on campus can see a physical display. A digital hall of fame or interactive trophy case can be viewed on campus and online. That way, fans, families, and alumni can engage with your athletics history from anywhere, expanding your recognition beyond school walls and boosting community engagement.

4. Maintenance & efficiency

Updating physical forms of recognition, like plaques, can take a lot of time — it might take weeks to get a plaque up on your wall, and by that time, the moment of celebration has passed.

Digital hall of fame software lets staff add inductees, photos, or videos instantly through an online dashboard. Not only does this save time, it keeps recognition current.

5. Branding & modernization

Consistent branding and overall modernization are becoming increasingly important for high school athletic departments. Traditional halls of fame fall behind on both.

A digital hall of fame puts your brand front and center. Customize the touchscreen display to your colors, logos, and other brand elements. Cutting-edge touchscreen technology also shows your community that you’re invested in recognition.

6. Sponsorship

Digital halls of fame also create strong opportunities for corporate sponsorship. If you already feature logos on social media or digital scoreboards, the same approach works here.

A digital hall of fame provides prime on-screen real estate for local businesses, and its high engagement from students and visitors makes it an appealing platform for sponsors looking to increase visibility.

Explore more limitations of traditional halls of fame

All of these factors serve to benefit schools switching to a digital hall of fame. Beyond saving time and streamlining workflows, digital halls of fame can also significantly boost community engagement and athlete participation. The more stories you tell and successes you share, the more connected your community feels to your program, and the more students will want to be a part of it.

For Green Level High School Athletic Director Colin Fegeley, digital recognition strengthens crucial lifelong ties for all student-athletes, past and present. “Preserving the history and accomplishments for all of the kids that will come back and continue to call this place home over the rest of their lives is, to me, an important thing.”

Hear more from Colin Fegeley on modernizing student recognition.

What should you look for in a digital hall of fame provider?

Here are the main components to look for when evaluating a digital hall of fame software for your school.

1. Customization

Consider if a digital hall of fame provider offers use cases beyond a digital hall of fame. Can you also display athletes of the year, team championships, records, notable alumni, and more?

You should also look into whether the provider offers unlimited content, the ability to embed photos, videos, & other media, and the capability to customize the display to your school’s branding.

2. Ease of use

Arguably the most important component of a digital hall of fame provider is its user-friendliness. The easier the software is to use, the faster your updates will be.

Consider how easy it will be to train your staff or anyone helping you building out your digital hall of fame. The easier the software, the less training your staff will need.

Look for a visual editor that shows you edits in real-time, a modern interface, and a familiar feel. If a digital hall of fame software is similar to other software you use, the easier it will be.

3. Integrations

Ideally, your digital hall of fame provider fits seamlessly into your existing workflows. It may even integrate with the other tools you use.

For example, evaluate whether the digital hall of fame software includes built-in storage or integrates with Google Drive to make uploading media as easy as possible. Even better, look for a platform like Gipper Touch, which integrates seamlessly with Gipper Engage to give you everything you need to create branded graphics for your digital hall of fame.”

4. Design quality

A digital hall of fame should allow you to present your school in a professional, branded way. Make sure your digital hall of fame provider offers features that keep your branding consistent, a variety of templates to keep your experience unique, and high-quality designs that make your content look fresh and modern.

5. Onboarding support

No matter which digital hall of fame provider you choose, you’re going to need some help getting set up. Evaluate whether the provider offers white-glove support to get started and ensures you get both hardware and content support as you go.

6. Hardware requirements

It’s important to look into hardware when choosing a digital hall of fame provider. Some require specific hardware, while others offer flexible set ups. You might be able to use a touchscreen or device that you already have.

7. Cost

While the price tag itself is a key factor to consider, you should also evaluate the payment structure of your digital hall of fame software. Some digital hall of fame providers offer one-time payments, while others use an annual subscription model.

Think about what would work best with your budget, and don’t forget to consider other ways that you can pay for your digital hall of fame, such as booster clubs and corporate sponsorships.

Check out our full guide to choosing the right hall of fame provider.

What is the best digital hall of fame software for schools?

There are a number of options for schools looking to get started with a digital hall of fame provider. The best digital hall of fame provider for you depends on your needs, budget, and goals. Here is a high-level overview of some of the most popular digital hall of fame providers.

For schools looking for user-friendly software with high-quality professional design, Gipper Touch is a great fit. For robust customization and analytics, Rocket Alumni Solutions is an excellent choice.

Schools who would prefer a one-time, upfront cost with the option of an all-in-one hardware package should consider Wall of Fame or TouchPros, although those providers tend to be less customizable.

Explore our complete guide to the 2025 best digital hall of fame software for schools.

How to start your digital hall of fame

Launching an interactive hall of fame seems daunting, but it can be simpler than you think. Here's a general outline of the steps you can take to get started: 

1. Create a content outline. Determine what you'd like your hall of fame to be: is it just a digital hall of fame, an interactive trophy case, or all of the above? 
2. Evaluate your needs, budget, and must-have features. Think about what you'd like your digital hall of fame software to include and start to research providers. 
3. Choose a provider and determine payment. Once you have a list of criteria, picking the right software should be easy! Decide how you'll pay for your digital hall of fame, whether that's through your booster club or your standard budget process.
4. Start collecting content. Gather photos, athlete bios, and other info that you know you'll include in your interactive hall of fame.
5. Recruit some help! Ask staff members or even students to help out with building out your digital hall of fame. These people can also help maintain it as time goes on.
6. Set up your touchscreen & go live. Make sure to ask your digital hall of fame provider for assistance whenever you need it.

Pro tip: Some digital hall of fame providers, like Gipper Touch, include white-glove onboarding — meaning their team will take on most of the setup and launch work for you. That can make many of the steps above disappear entirely for your team.

Why the digital hall of fame is the future of recognition

As schools continue to embrace digital transformation, interactive halls of fame will likely become standard. It's time to say goodbye to the static wall plaques and trophy cases and embrace interactive forms of recognition.

By pairing technology with tradition, schools can:

• Honor their history more dynamically
• Engage students and alumni more deeply
• Create a central, digital trophy case that never runs out of space

The digital hall of fame isn’t just the next piece of technology for schools. It’s a storytelling platform that ensures every athlete, coach, and team gets the recognition they deserve, long into the future.