Clermont High School Reunion turns spirit into scholarships

For one Saturday in April, old classmates became teenagers again.

Stories were retold. Yearbooks resurfaced. Former Hilltoppers and Highlanders wandered through decades of memories during the sold-out Clermont High School All-Class Reunion.

But beneath the laughter, class photos, and familiar faces was something more lasting than nostalgia: a shared commitment to future generations of Clermont students.

What began as a way to reconnect classmates has also become a meaningful tradition of giving back through the Clermont High School Alumni Scholarship Fund, held here at the Community Foundation of South Lake County.

“The Clermont High School Alumni Scholarship Fund was established in 2016 as a way to keep the CHS spirit alive,” said Denise Wallace, chair of the scholarship committee. The fund allows alumni to invest in students who are now beginning their own journeys.

The scholarship program is open to relatives of Clermont High School graduates or attendees living anywhere in the United States. Applications are administered through the Foundation, while fundraising efforts continue year-round.

“Since its inception, the fund has awarded 29 scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 to graduating seniors pursuing college, technical training, and trade school opportunities.”

This year, thanks to a generous donation, the committee awarded five $2,000 scholarships, the largest number distributed in a single year.

Scholarship funding is separate from reunion ticket sales. While the reunion committee and scholarship committee work closely in spirit, donations to the fund are raised independently to ensure long-term support for local students.

Applications for the next scholarship cycle will open in December.

To support the Clermont High School Alumni Scholarship Fund, visit Clermont High School Alumni Scholarship Fund.