The Northern Arizona University Athletic Department announced on May 26 the members of its 2026 Lumberjack Athletic Hall of Fame class, which includes three former student-athletes and a championship team.
This year’s inductees are George Beamish, a national champion distance runner; Case Cookus, the all-time leading passer in NAU football history; Amy Patton, NAU women’s basketball’s all-time leading scorer; and the 2013-14 NAU swimming and diving team that won the program’s first Western Athletic Conference championship. The induction ceremony will take place on Friday, Sept. 11 in Flagstaff at the Student-Athlete High Performance Center. The class will also be recognized during the football game against UIW on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Northern Arizona University President José Luis Cruz Rivera said, “On behalf of Northern Arizona University, I want to congratulate the members of this year’s NAU Athletics Hall of Fame class. This group of Hall of Famers had a profound impact on Lumberjack Athletics and helped put NAU on the map nationally. We look forward to welcoming them back home to Flagstaff in September,” the selection was made by an eight-member committee including six current Hall of Famers.
The Lumberjack Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1981 to honor those who have brought recognition and distinction to NAU Athletics through exceptional contributions as student-athletes, coaches, staff or teams. Former student-athletes become eligible five years after their careers end and must have competed for at least two years at NAU; teams are nominated based on extraordinary accomplishments such as conference or national championships.
George Beamish is recognized for his role in elevating men’s cross country into a national championship program and holds several school records as well as international honors representing New Zealand. Case Cookus remains atop multiple school passing categories and played professionally following his collegiate career. Amy Patton finished her career as one of Big Sky Conference’s top scorers with professional experience overseas. The 2013-14 swimming & diving team began what would become a streak of consecutive conference titles for the program.
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks has earned recognition for athletic achievements including Big Sky Conference championships across multiple sports among alumni, distinguished hall-of-fame inductions, academic success through frequent All-Academic Team placements, comprehensive support services for student-athlete development, and notable facilities such as Walkup Skydome and Lumberjack Stadium, according to the official website.
