WE NEED YOUR HELP – PASS THE WORD ABOUT THIS SCHOLARSHIP TO YOUR RELATIVES WHO ARE RISING SENIORS! THEY DO NOT HAVE TO BE LOCATED IN LAKE COUNTY TO QUALIFY.
Through the generosity of alumni and the community, the Clermont High School Alumni Scholarship Program has awarded 24 scholarships to deserving high school seniors who are related to those who attended Clermont High School (which closed in 1993). The CHS scholarship funds are held at the Community Foundation of South Lake (cfslc.org – a charitable organization) which also provides the application oversight. The committee thanks those who have previously donated to the CHS Alumni Scholarship Fund. If you have a senior (living anywhere) in your extended family they can apply through the website here — deadline March 1 https://cfslc.org/apply/scholarships/
The cherished memories of Clermont High School are one thing that still remains in us. What better way to honor our beloved institution than by helping to further the education of our alumni family. And because of your generosity over the years, you, the alumni have succeeded in doing just that. We are grateful to many memorial contributions to the Scholarship Fund through the Community Foundation of South Lake. Please inform your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren or nieces/nephews when they are about to graduate from high school to apply for the CHS scholarship. It is easy to apply online via the Community Foundation of South Lake website. This scholarship is open to all students who have a relative that attended CHS, no matter where they are graduating from high school. This scholarship includes technical and trade schools.
Each year, we present two or more High School Seniors with a scholarship on behalf of the CSH Alumni Scholarship Fund. The money goes directly to their school of choice to help with their tuition. BIG NEWS! This year (2026) we will present FIVE awards of $2,000 each. The Scholarship Committee considers five main criteria; academics, financial need, responses to two essay questions, references, and finally, extra-curricular activities (which include school activities, sports, job related activities, and community service).
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CHS SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
2025 CHS Scholarships
Cadence Lamoreaux
East Ridge High School
Daughter of Kristen and Eric Lamoreaux
•Weighted GPA of 4.6
•Extracurricular – Cheer, Dance, Theater, Church activities, youth leadership, Special Olympics
•College – University of South Florida
•Planned Major – Occupational Therapy
Connor Plummer
South Lake High School
•Son of Elizabeth and Lucas Plummer
•Weighted GPA of 3.6
•Extracurricular – Football, track and field, weightlifting and lacrosse. Involved as volunteer coach and assisting with church activities
•College – Southeastern University
•Planned Major – Construction Technology
2024 CHS Scholarships
Ashley Archambault. Ashley went to school at East Ridge High School and lives with her parents Tiffany and Thomas. Both her parents attended Clermont High School. Deana Beighley Gonzales, her aunt, also attended school there. Ashley, better known as Payton, is planning on going to school full-time at FSU or UF. Her goal is to be an anesthesiologist. She has already received her AA from Lake Sumter State College. Besides being duel enrolled between high school and college, she holds down a job and is part of a school singing group.
Kayden Page. Kayden went to East Ridge High School and her parents are Kathryn and Tristan. Her grandfather, Michael Page, went to Clermont High Schol for 4 years and her father went to CHS for 2 years. Kayden wants to study meteorology and environmental science. She has been accepted at FSU but hopes to go to college full time at Texas A & M to study meteorology. At East Ridge she belongs to the National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and several others. One of her final goals is to score an internship with either NASA, the National Weather Service or The Weather Channel.
Phillip Slack. Phillip goes to Lake Minneola High School. His parents are Catherine and John. John Joseph Slack graduated from Clermont High School in 1980. Phillip is very interested in space and aerospace engineering. Phillip has a 3.8 GPA and is an AP Scholar with Distinction. He was awarded Superior Solo and Ensemble for his playing on the drums. He was also awarded Superior State Solo and Ensemble, all District Honor Band and Music Director. Phillip has been accepted at the University of Central Florida where he is planning to go full time. While attending he would like to study mechanical engineering and music with the goal of earning a doctorate in aerospace engineering.
Logan Kuharske. Logan goes to South Lake High School. His parents are Cassandra and Phillip Kuharske. His grandmother, Madeline Hoffman Kuharske, attended and graduated from Clermont High School. Logan was very active in ROTC. In his freshman year he was the top cadet for his class. He was also president of the automotive club. Logan also has a 1-year-old son. He has been enrolled in the Lake County Schools Teen Parent Program and has strived to work hard and do well in his classes. He has been able to maintain a 3.5 GPA and has been accepted to the National Aviation Academy in Clearwater.
Avery Wicker. Avery goes to East Ridge High School and lives with her parents, Kimberly (CHS class of 1992) and Richard. Bill McGuire, her grandfather; and Nancy Nyhuis Heath, her grandmother, attended Clermont High School also. Avery is planning on beginning her educational journey with pre-law. She is going to be a full-time student at the University of Florida. Her GPA is 3.6. Avery was also an intern for her state representative. She maintained this while being dual enrolled, taking five college classes, playing volleyball and serving her legislative tasks. Avery played volleyball for 4 years and softball for two.
Congratulations to these five incredible recipients: Lake County can be very proud of each of them. A future lawyer, an anesthesiologist, an aviation mechanic, a meteorologist and an aerospace engineer.
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2023 RECIPIENTS:
Allison Hagar – Allison Hagar attends South Lake HS. She is the daughter of Julie Clemons Hagar and Alan Hagar. Her mom Julie attended CHS in 1993. Allison will be attending Florida International University beginning this summer. Her short term goal is to become a social worker focusing on domestic child abuse with a future endeavor to become a Clinical Psychologist. Allison has also been active in multiple sports programs during her high school years and is captain of the woman’s Lacrosse team, a ranking officer in the ROTC program and she is an active member of the FFA. She has accomplished all this while spending countless hours volunteering for her church and community.
Brianna Peine – Brianna Peine was homeschooled and enrolled in Florida’s Virtual School. She is the daughter of Michelle and Tim Peine. Tim graduated in the CHS’s final class of 1993. Brianna plans on attending Lake Sumter State College this fall to finish her Associates of Art degree and then go on to study physical therapy and become a Physical Therapist. Brianna has been active in multiple sports programs during her high school years. She is captain of the woman’s cross country team at East Ridge HS and is also playing for the Lacrosse team. She has volunteered in numerous ways for her church and is a member of the Student Leadership Program there.
Lindi Petty – Lindi Petty. Lindi attends South Lake HS and is the daughter of Wendy Bridges Petty and Michael Petty, who both graduated from CHS in its final year in 1993. Lindi will be attending Valencia College to begin her studies for a career in Radiology. She has been active in multiple sports throughout her high school years. For the past two years she has been captain of the women’s volleyball team and also captain of the women’s soccer team the past three years. She has been involved in multiple clubs and organizations during high school. Lindi has accomplished all this while being an active volunteer in her community and working part time since her sophomore year to save money for college.
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2022 – Clermont High School Alumni Support Today’s Students
April 30, 2022 – The Clermont High School (CHS) Scholarship Fund announces its first scholarship recipients have completed their degrees, and awards two new scholarships at the 2022 CHS All Class Reunion. In the Spring of 2017, The CHS Alumni Scholarship Fund awarded its first $1,000 scholarships to CHS offspring Charles Duhart and Jason Richter. The CHS Scholarship Committee is proud to announce that Charles graduated from the University of Florida (UF) in the spring of 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry Resource Conservation. He will be continuing his education at the University of California, Irvine School of Law. The other recipient, Jared Richter, graduated in December 2021 from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. While at UF, Jared interned with American Systems and Lockheed Martin, where he is presently employed. CHS also congratulates its 12th and 13th recipients. Following in their footsteps, this year’s students have demonstrated leadership, tenacity, compassion, and commitment. Both are bound to go on to great careers. At the CHS All Class Reunion on April 30, committee member Karen Newman awarded these two young women with $1,000 paid on their behalf to their respective colleges to support their studies.
The CHS scholarship funds are held at the Community Foundation of South Lake (cfslc.org – a charitable organization) which also provides the application oversight. The committee thanks those who have previously donated to the CHS Alumni Scholarship Fund. Due to the 2020 reunion cancellation, scholarship donations lagged behind. If you would like to contribute, please click here: CLERMONT HIGH SCHOOL REUNION (fcsuite.com). Tax deductible donations are welcome and should be made to the CFLSC Clermont HS Scholarship Fund, which can also accept memorial contributions and has a “legacy fund” for estate planning.
Thank you to our Scholarship Fund donors! For questions, contact Scholarship Fund Chairman Kim Rester Sams.
PAST CHS ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS:
- 2022 – Amari Graham and Kaley Wooding
- 2021 – Hailey Bladek and Ellexandria Schmidt
- 2020 – Maggie Petty and Atiana Cardenas
- 2019 – Allyah Zhane and Aiden Christopher Hernandez
- 2018 – Hailey Susan Boyatt Vivienne Samantha Krueger and Jayson Isom
- 2017 – Charles Duhart and Jared Richter
HOW AND WHY SUPPORTING THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND BENEFITS YOU!
Did you know you can donate your appreciated stocks to our Clermont Alumni Scholarship Fund and bypass capital gains tax? Did you know you may be able to reduce your tax burden even if you don’t itemize? An IRA charitable rollover has several significant tax advantages. It allows you to give up to $100,000 directly from your IRA to charity using pre-tax assets. If you do not itemize, or are subject to charitable deduction limits, the IRA rollover still allows you to give in tax-advantaged ways. An IRA rollover gift may also help you avoid income that could push you into a higher tax bracket.
Is Making a Rollover Gift Right For You? Making a gift to charity directly from your IRA comes with a number of advantages, including:
• It is easy to make – just notify your IRA custodian.
• You can give from pre-tax assets – which is a nice tax benefit.
• The distributions may satisfy all, or part, of your required minimum distribution and are not subject to the IRS’s charitable deduction limits.
• It minimizes the effect on your cash flow; the gift is from your assets, not your checkbook.
• It allows you to make a significant gift to support the Community Foundation of South Lake or give to a cause that you care about. We have numerous field of interest funds that you may be interested in supporting.
Contact the Community Foundation today for more information about an IRA Rollover. One limitation is the IRS does NOT allow rollovers to be placed in Donor Advised Funds. *We are not tax professionals and would suggest you consult your CPA to discuss your personal situation.
Clermont High School Alumni 