By: Houghton Athletics Release
Three former Highlander student-athletes and a standout coach will be added to the Houghton Athletics Hall of Honor during induction ceremonies to be held at a later date. Houghton is pleased to welcome Paul Mills '61, Lori Wynn '92, Kaitlin (Fadden) Platt '10, and former field hockey head coach Donna Hornibrook as the 2020 induction class.
"It is an honor to announce this year's Hall of Honor induction class. Each of the four inductees have uniquely helped to create the legacy of Houghton Highlander athletics upon which our student-athletes today strive to live up to," said Houghton Director of Athletics
Matthew Webb. "Dr. Paul Mills, Lori Wynn, Kaitlin Platt, and Donna Hornibrook exemplify what it means to be a Houghton Highlander, and we are proud to bestow upon them this prestigious honor."
Paul Mills was a standout during the House League and Purple and Gold eras of Houghton athletics. A proud member of the Gold team, Mills played multiple sports but made his biggest mark in basketball, where he was among the league scoring and rebounding leaders each year and set the P&G record with 50 points in a game as a senior. After leaving Houghton, Mills began a career in higher education, where he served as a coach and administrator at a number of Christian colleges, including Marion College (Indiana Wesleyan), Bartlesville Wesleyan College (Oklahoma Wesleyan), Southern Wesleyan University and his alma mater. He served as president at Oklahoma Wesleyan for 19 years.
Lori Wynn competed in basketball and served as a team leader under Head Coach Skip Lord for three seasons. She parlayed her passion for the sport and leadership skills into a 28-year career as a collegiate coach, including 21 years as a head coach at Grace College, Nyack College, Malone University and Geneva College. Additionally, she served as an assistant coach at Taylor University, Baptist Bible College and Appalachian State University. Wynn's career as a player and coach could be described with four words: passion, grit, determination and resilience.
Kaitlin (Fadden) Platt finished her career as one of the most decorated runners to ever don the purple and gold, earning five All-America awards (two in cross country, three in track) and claiming the 2008 NAIA national title in the marathon as a sophomore. It was Houghton's first NAIA championship. At the time, she was just the third Houghton athlete (second female), to ever post NAIA All-America honors in both cross country and track & field.
Donna Hornibrook coached Houghton field hockey for nine seasons (1995-2003), posting a record of 111-39-4, including a school-record 16 wins in 2003 and three 15-win seasons. In 1997, her Highlanders defeated two-time defending NCAA Division II champion Bloomsburg University 2-1, and recorded a similar feat in 1998, defeating NCAA Division II runner-up Lock Haven 4-2. She went on to lead Cornell University for 14 seasons, posting a 129-101 record overall and a mark of 54-44 in the Ivy League. Her teams earned at least 10 wins in a season 10 times, while finishing second in the conference six times.
Stay tuned for details on when the ceremony will take place.
The addition of the 2020 induction class will bring the Hall of Honor roster to 56 student-athletes, coaches and contributors.
Nominate a Candidate
Do you know an individual who has made outstanding contributions to athletics through participation and/or support of athletics? The Hall of Honor Committee of the Houghton College Athletic Advisory Board is inviting the Houghton community to be a part of the nomination process and use the online nomination form to nominate candidates for consideration!
See our current
Hall of Honor list.
See our criteria details and
submit a nomination.
About the Hall of Honor
Founded in 1994 "To help preserve, strengthen and add distinction to the athletic program at Houghton College," the Highlanders' Hall of Honor recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the program, through participation, support or interest. Induction into the Hall takes into account the lives of those honored, acknowledging evidence of discipline, sacrifice, steadfastness, cooperation, commitment and Christian witness. The Hall honors the men and women who have demonstrated—both on campus and in succeeding years—the worth of athletics by their mature leadership and their impact on society. A plaque commemorating each member hangs in the foyer of the Nielsen Center.