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akland University is inducting five new members to their Hall of Honor during their homecoming weekend on Friday, Jan. 24.

OU recognizes student-athlete alums every year, with the class of 2014 including Jason Perry (men’s soccer), Yoav Ritter (men’s swimming), Danielle Ward Gray (women’s swimming), Kristie Kieffer Slowke (women’s cross country) and Raffi Karapetian (men’s swimming and diving).

“This is an incredible honor. If you would have told me as an 18-year old entering OU that someday I would be recognized in this manner, I wouldn’t have believed you,” Perry said. “Being inducted into the Hall of Honor and to now be included with those names, it’s a great feeling.”

Perry was drafted by the MLS’s Los Angeles Galaxy in 2004, later on becoming an assistant coach at OU where he won two Summit League titles. He is currently a member of Butler University’s soccer staff.

One common theme beyond their successes on the playing field was the bonds created with teammates and coaching staffs. 

“The one thing I like to look back on is the camaraderie we had,” Ritter said. “We had a real special connection.”

To enjoy success as a team, coaches and players have to develop a mutual fight and passion for victory to reach their goals, these honorees helped their teams recognize what they were after. These athletes managed to leave impressions towards their programs just by never giving up on these passions.

“I hope my hard work ethic and dedication inspires other students to work towards their goals,” Kieffer said.

Kieffer didn’t begin her journey into cross-country until her senior year of high school.

“I owe a lot of my success to my coaches, teammates, and family,” she said. 

The recognition the athletes receive with this honor gives them the chance to reflect on their days here at OU as well.

“I feel the Oakland name has grown so much since my days there,” Ward said. “The kids I coach today dream of swimming for a team like Oakland.”

It’s not just the swimming team Ward is talking about either.

“The basketball team has done a great job of getting us onto the Division I map. There is a lot pride behind Oakland athletics,” she said. “Making the transition from Division II to Division I was a big step.”