During Homecoming week, Southeast Polk added four new names to its Hall of Honor wall inside the high school. Established in 2009, the honor exists to recognize the alumni, educators, and leaders who set the standard for service. The 2026 inductees reflect four distinct paths, but a single, shared imprint on the district.

Here are the individuals honored in 2026.

Sideline Conversations: Al Fick

When Al Fick and his wife, Georgia, moved into the district in 1962, Southeast Polk was still establishing its programs and finding its rhythm.

Raising three sons who would all graduate as Rams, Fick spent his evenings on the sidelines and in the bleachers at youth games. Conversations with other parents revealed a clear gap: neighboring towns had organized booster clubs to champion their kids, but SEP did not.

Fick didn’t wait for someone else to build it. He helped organize the original SEP Booster Club and served as its president for its foundational first three years.

By day, Fick spent 26 years as a draftsman and engineer for Pioneer Hi-Bred, earning national recognition from the American Society of Agricultural Engineers for designing seed production equipment. He later managed three Merry Maids franchises before serving as Vice President and General Manager for ServiceMaster. Yet his off-hours remained dedicated to the community: coaching Mitchellville Little League, assisting local Boy Scouts, leading his church congregation, and helping launch the Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter at SEP

The Game Day Tradition: Josh & Michelle Hanson

Josh and Michelle Hanson moved to the district nearly two decades ago, raising four children who all graduated from Southeast Polk. Josh grew up on Des Moines’ East side and Michelle in a small Iowa town, bringing a shared belief that calling a place home means taking responsibility for it and making it better.

All four of their children went through Southeast Polk schools, but their involvement didn’t stop at graduation. Over the years, they coached youth teams, packed meals, hosted neighborhood breakfasts, and mentored students. Alongside Brad Douglas and Maggie Crabb, they co-founded WeGiveARam. Built around an annual Kentucky Derby party, the initiative has raised more than $50,000 for local causes and awarded 21 college scholarships to graduating SEP seniors.

They also brought a simple tradition to Friday nights: sponsoring the 3rd-quarter field kick challenge, giving high school students a moment on the field and a memory to take with them.

The Table in 1975: Dr. Richard F. Marshall

In 1970, Dr. Richard “Dick” Marshall and his wife, Marijo, settled their family in the district. All four of their children attended SEP schools, where sports and student activities quickly became central to family life.

By 1975, wrestling had built a dedicated following in the district, but lacked a formal support network. Dr. Marshall joined a small group of parents who sat down with the athletic director to pitch a structured way to back student-athletes. That meeting provided the spark that brought the SEP Booster Club to life.

Dr. Marshall brought a methodical approach to everything in his life. A veterinarian with a master’s degree in bacteriology from Iowa State University, he spent his professional career in large-animal medicine and pharmaceutical research. Locally, he served on the Area 5 Education Agency Board of Directors and helped guide the district through critical facility planning committees during key years of growth. Though Dr. Marshall passed away in 2020, the foundational structures he helped design remain active today.

Deep Roots: Dean O’Connor

Dean O’Connor’s story is rooted entirely in the soil of eastern Polk County. Moving to Altoona in 1977, O’Connor attended Centennial Elementary, Southeast Polk Middle School, and graduated from SEP High School in 1985. After college, he and his wife, Dawn, returned home to raise their two sons in those same hallways.

O’Connor’s public service began long before he held elective office. He was a founding board member and former president (2014-2019) of the Southeast Polk Education Foundation, working to raise private support for district classrooms and student opportunities.

In the decades since, O’Connor has helped shape local civic life, serving on the Altoona City Council and as Mayor of Altoona since 2018. His involvement includes board leadership for the Altoona Community Campus, Eastern Polk County Community Foundation, Parks Board, Soccer Club, and the Sports Booster Club. Yet he still carves out time to organize the SEP Class of 1985 reunions every five years, keeping decades of classmates connected to where they started.

Plaques for all 2026 inductees are now installed on the Hall of Honor wall inside Southeast Polk High School. Nominations for future classes can be submitted at southeastpolk.org.