RALEIGH - For years, the Raleigh Hall of Fame has recognized those who have helped shape North Carolina's capital and the hall has announced its class of 2015. Meredith McLaurin, board chair for the Hall of Fame, says this year's inductees come from a wide number of backgrounds.

"We have educators who have made a lot of difference to the City of Raleigh's school system and the Wake County public school system," McLaurin says. "People such as Dr. Robert Bridges."

Bridges was the superintendent of the Wake County school system and created the Helping Hands program. Other inductees include Charles Meeker, former Raleigh mayor, and Prentiss Baker, a business leader and philanthropist for half a century.

In addition to the eight individuals being recognized, the Hall of Fame is inducting two organizations McLaurin says have been part of Raleigh's foundation, such as Artsplosure.

"Not only is it introducing Raleigh citizens to the arts but it's really helping bring people to our downtown and to our great city and adding culture and excitement to that," McLaurin says.

The other organization being inducted for 2015 is the Raleigh Rescue Mission -- a center for homeless services.

"It was formed officially in 1961, providing initially just meals and shelter only to homeless men," McLaurin says. "But in 2015, it has been structured to provide short-term and long-term services for men, women and children."

McLaurin says the Raleigh Rescue Mission has served more than 750,000 people since its founding.

The Hall of Fame is also recognizing two people as part of its centennial category. McLaurin says this is for people who helped effect change in the city more than 100 years ago.

"We discovered a need to reach back into history and find those individuals who made contributions to the foundation and the building of our city," she says.

The centennials this year are Henry Delany, the first African-American Episcopal bishop in U.S. history who also helped in the construction of St. Augustine School, and Henry Tupper, founder of Shaw University, the oldest historically black college in the South.

All the inductees will be recognized at the Hall of Fame event October 5 at the Raleigh Convention Center.