Eight new inductees were added to a local hall of fame on Wednesday night in downtown South Bend, and they had nothing to do with college football.

Each year, the South Bend Community Hall of Fame honors those who have made outstanding contributions to the South Bend area.

For example, Dr. Bernard Vagner, one of the night's inductees, is a civil rights activist who helped pass South Bend's Fair Housing Ordinance back in 1968.

The awards dinner also recognized others for distinguished achievement, including Brett Banasiewicz, the Washington High School student who spent $100,000 of his own BMX Championship winnings to open a local skate park.

Banasiewicz shared some of his tips for success at the dinner.

“If you want to succeed, ask questions,” said Brett. “If you go to somebody who's more experienced in what you're trying to do, ask questions because that's the best thing that you can do. If you don't ask questions, you're not going to learn.”

Other inductees were local physicians Drs. Rafat and Zoreen Ansari, Rod Ganey of Press Ganey Associates, Edward A. Myers the first black principal and coach in South Bend schools, Sydney Pollack, the late Hollywood actor and producer and Marguerite Taylor of the Northeast Neighborhood Council and George Cutter the 2011 historic inductee.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the South Bend Community Hall of Fame.