Dr. Paul J. Hagerty, the namesake of the school. Sam Momary, the first principal. Mike Rice, the assistant superintendent and former band director. These three, part of a group that included four current or former superintendents and lots of past and present faculty, gathered for a Aug. 23 reunion.
The VIP dinner, held in the media center, marked the beginning of a year-long celebration for Hagerty’s 20th anniversary. Dinner started at 5 p.m., and during the hour-long meal, the original staff joyfully recalled and reminisced on memories they shared from 20 years ago.
“I was the most hated man in Seminole County because I robbed every school and the administrative office of some of their best people,” Momary said. “They all wanted to come work [at Hagerty] because of the parent support and the great group of kids that we would have.”
Culinary students, with the guidance of Culinary teacher Matthew Thompson, arranged a selection of food including dinner rolls with honey butter, baked red baby potatoes and chicken piccata.
A video with pictures of the school’s 20 years of growth was shown while the attendees ate dinner. After, principal Robert Frasca asked everyone to sing to Momary, who was celebrating his 76th birthday.
“We’re fortunate to have four superintendents in this room and that is four individuals that have seen over the last 40 years, some of the great things that have happened in Seminole County— building Hagerty High school was just one of them,” Superintendent Serita Beamon said. “It’s a continuous reminder of all of the efforts that the school system has made for our community and for our kids.”
When the dinner finished, the guests were led into Sam Momary Stadium where a special spot was reserved in the end zone. Before the game started, Rice, alongside seniors Amya Waters and Katy Smith, directed the band during opening.
After the ceremony ended, Momary was called to do the coin toss that would decide what team would kick off the game— it was in favor of Hagerty. Despite an hour-long weather delay to start the second half, the varsity football team beat Lake Howell, 31-14.
“We were a very tight knit staff when we opened, because we only had freshmen, so there were only like 50 staff members and 500 students. To kind of relive those memories and get to catch up and fill [ the original faculty] in on what we’ve been through and now where we are… It’s really neat,” assistant principal and former athletic director Christy Tibbits- Bryce said.
More events are planned in celebration of the school’s 20th anniversary. A second Hall of Fame induction will be set in January, where each sports team will host an alumni night, two professional football player’s jerseys will be retired and the theater department will hold an event commemorating 20 years of Hagerty theater.
“It’s really kind of exciting…to still be here; there are only 11 of us [original members]. Everyone’s doing their own thing to invite people back and celebrate the 20th.” Tibbits-Bryce said.
