Awards
Each year since 1967, the Harvard Varsity Club celebrates the past and present achievement of Harvard’s athletes by organizing two major events: the Hall of Fame Dinner and the Senior Letterwinners’ Dinner.
Hall of Fame Dinner
The Hall of Fame Dinner, which is held at the Harvard Club of Boston every May, brings together former Harvard athletes to honor their undergraduate athletic achievements.
The Varsity Club and a special Committee appointed by the Executive Committee of the Club oversees the Hall of Fame induction process. As Harvard offers the largest intercollegiate athletic program in the country, it is a challenging task to evaluate athletic achievement across 41 varsity sports. Therefore, strict guidelines for induction exist. In order to be selected into the Hall of Fame, all athletes must meet the following requirements:
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1. has been a graduate of the college for 15 years
2. excelled for multiple years in a sport while an undergraduate at Harvard
3. achieved greatness in a sport at the time when competing at Harvard
In total, almost 400 athletes from most Harvard’s 41 varsity teams have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. To browse the inductees by sport and year of induction, please click here. If you would like to nominate someone for induction to the Hall of Fame, please email us at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Senior Letterwinners’ Dinner
On the night before graduation, the Varsity Club welcomes senior letterwinners, their families, friends, and coaches to a dinner to honor the graduating class’ athletic accomplishments. Over the decades, the dinner has grown from a gathering of modest size to 650 person celebration.
At the Dinner, special recognition is given to athletes who have made significant contributions to the culture and success of Harvard Athletics. Three awards were handed out at the first dinner: the Bingham Award, the Burr Scholarship, and the Fadden Award. Currently, there are nine major prizes distributed. View descriptions and complete lists of past award recipients.
This year’s Senior Letterwinners’ Dinner will take place on May 26. Please mark your calendars accordingly. Invitations to the event will be distributed in the late winter.