The festivities kicked off on Friday morning, April 26, with Mychael Bennett spearheading a golf tournament open to all Clermont High School graduates, friends, and family. Later that evening, the Class of ’74 organized a Meet & Greet event at the Clermont Brewing Company, providing an opportunity for attendees from various classes to mingle and catch up.

Saturday, April 27, the alumni celebration continued at the Living Hope, Wesley Center where, during the Annual CHS All-Class Reunion luncheon, special recognition was given to the 50th graduating class, commemorating their milestone achievement and contributions to the school’s legacy.

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Later that evening the class of 74 met at Green Valley Country Club to celebrate the 50th reunion where a casual buffet was offered along with tunes spun by DJs of the era, Mychael Bennett and Mike Cox. Laughter and memories flew freely throughout the reunion.

The reunion weekend also served as an occasion for giving back, as the Clermont High School Alumni awarded $1,000 scholarships to deserving students –  Ashley Archambault, Kayden Page, Logan Kuharske, Avery Wicker, and Phillip Slack.  

The success of the reunion weekend was made possible by the efforts of the Reunion Committee which included Larry Anderson, Martha Richard, June Resler, Kim Noak, Alfred Gordon, Evelyn Smith, Monica McEwan, Benson Hartle, Greg Homan, Abraham Johnson, Nancy Allison, Joy Albrecht, Mary Anne Meeker, Mary Hix, Sharon Keys, Beryl Fuller, Greg Watson, Mally Cox, and Norma Honey.

The weekend ended and attendees departed with magical memories, and a sense of Clermont High pride.  Though the school is gone, the timeless bonds that unite the Clermont High School alumni family remain.  Go Highlanders! 

(photos from Toni Bell and sourced from Clermont High School Alumni Florida-All Classes Welcome/Susan Schommer.

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Our school building is no more, the lockers and classrooms, shop rooms, band rooms, auditorium and lunchroom, locker rooms and showers and chem labs all gone.

What remains of CHS is US, our memories, our triumphs and failures the exceedingly happy days and those overwhelmingly sad, wins and losses on the field and wins and disappointments in the classroom, teachers who did their best to give us a decent education and a positive start on the rest of our life when we received that Diploma or GED.  Our recollections of those days and the people we shared them with, are our CHS no one can bulldoze it, cover it with sand and clay and say it’s gone. It is no more gone than your memories and mine.

I have started collecting and sharing personal look backs/recollection short essays from our Highlander crew from different eras of CHS/Clermont think about what you might share.

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By Nancy Gallup Pruitt (CHS class of ’69)

Spring Way Back When

I remember the big event for the entire town in the spring was the Orange Blossom Festival (I think that’s what it was called, it was a long time ago). There was a large picnic outside Jenkins Auditorium, called All States Picnic for the snowbirds who joined us for our warmer winter. Tables were set for the many northern states or group of states who were represented. As a part of that celebration, Clermont sponsored the Miss Clermont contest (pageant) for young ladies who lived in the area or attended Clermont schools. There was a Little Miss Orange Blossom for the little girls also.

I remember Bell Ceramics donated a beautiful ceramic doll for the newly crowned Miss Lake County in 1968. The pageant as well as entertainment was performed on a large flatbed trailer, usually used for hauling large crates of freshly picked citrus. In my day, yes I am old, there was no ‘spring break’ for Lake County students.

We felt lucky to have Thursday, Friday, and Easter Monday off. I do recall Darla and I burned the miles on Highway 50 between Clermont and the Navy base in Orlando.  My car did not have a radio but I had a large 8-track player, so we sang, loudly across the miles!  

We were in the middle of basketball tournaments, running concession stands for basketball, track, and baseball. If the weather was warm Jaycee Beach and boats were calling us to play. Cheerleading tryouts were coming up so interested girls were preparing their best cheers. The Junior class was in the middle of preparing for Prom. Raising money, plans for the theme, getting committees ready to finish details were in full swing. Girls were looking for dresses, guys deciding who to invite to Prom, and finally what to do after. Party? Go to Daytona? Stay home to work?

We were blessed to have choices. I’m glad I had the opportunity to grow up in a small town like Clermont. My parents knew where I was-not because I told them!!! The village was there to raise all of us when we were younger!!! We were safe and I am so thankful for the village today!

I enjoyed this little stroll down memory lane

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The Clermont High School Alumni Scholarship Committee and the CHS Reunion Committee are excited to announce this year’s scholarship recipients, Atiana Cardinas and Maggie Petty! These bright young women have excelled in academics, leadership skills, and volunteerism. Congratulations!

Atiana Cardenas is the daughter of Teresa Estrada (class of 90) and Jose Cardenas. Atiana, a senior at Lake Minneola High School, plans to attend the University of Central Florida in the fall. Her major is Pre-Veterinary Sciences with plans to become a veterinarian. She is currently enrolled as a full-time student at Lake Sumter State College. She holds a leadership position with the Phi Beta Kapa Honor Society at Lake Sumter and has spent many hours volunteering in her community and church.

Maggie Petty is the daughter of Michael Petty (class of 93) and Wendy Bridges Petty (class of 91). Maggie is a senior at South Lake High School and is dual-enrolled at Lake Sumter State College. She plans to attend the University of Kentucky in the fall majoring in Sports Medicine. She hopes to become an athletic trainer for a university or sports team. Maggie is the team captain of the soccer program at South Lake, a member of the Key Club, National Honor Society, and Student Government, all while working 30 hours a week over the past year

We want to thank all those who have donated to the Scholarship Fund over the years. It is through your generosity we will be able to grant two $1,000 scholarships this year and hopefully for many years to come.

Due to this year’s reunion cancellation, our scholarship donations lagged behind. If you would like to still contribute, you can send a donation payable to South Lake Community Foundation (CHS Scholarship Fund) and mail all donations to our Scholarship Committee Treasurer, Karen Newman at 1270 4th Street, Clermont, 34711. To learn more about the Clermont High School Highlanders and Hilltoppers, Visit https://ClermontHSAlumni.org

Thank you all for this opportunity to give back to our family of Hilltoppers and Highlanders!

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