30th Anniversary History Book

2018-19 Beacon Flag Football Club

Nick Montgomery performs a deadlift at the USA Powerlifting Jacksonville Open Championships.

Mitch’s Place

With the arrival of Dr. George J. Hagerty as president in 2013, the pace of change accelerated. The new president set forth an ambitious agenda for the school, including plans to add an upgraded Student Union with a dining area; expansion of fitness programming and intramural athletics; and development of an 18,000-square-foot fitness and athletic center that would include a gymnasium suited to competition and training. In 2013 alone, Beacon Hall opened, housing the college’s administrative offices and three classrooms. The college purchased a building on West Meadow Street to house the Counseling Center; bought the James property, the site of the 20,000-square-foot A.S. Herlong former citrus packing plant (and future home of Resnick, Alpern, Plung Hall, which provides new student housing); also leased and renovated Leesburg’s former train depot to house the new fitness center; and leased and renovated a mower shop for the new studio arts major. As Beacon celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2014, expansion continued.

occupied by the Social Security Administration, and, after renovations, moved the student center to the site. The building also houses a classroom and the student mailroom. Between the Student Center and the Center for Student Success sits Mitch’s Place, a pocket park with flowing water accents. In August 2018, the school dedicated the Virginia & Robert Durand Garden, a 12,000-square-foot pocket park that inhabits what was Palmetto Street in downtown Leesburg and is appointed with drake elms, Brodie cedars, Washington palms, Natchez crape myrtles, and various other flora. The park, which has become a favorite hangout and place for reflection for students and passersby, was funded by Robert Durand and stands as a memorial to the woman he knew for 71 years and was married to for 59 years before her death in 2012. Throughout Beacon’s history, students had formed various sports clubs, but the one constant was basketball. “I loved it,” said Howard Mass , a 2008 graduate. For three and a half years, he said, “me and my roommate and others would always play” at night on

Howard Mass (holding basketball)

2018-19 Beacon Tennis Club Team

Nick Montgomery and Cortavis Watts pose with their medals from the USA Powerlifting Jacksonville Open Championships.

The college purchased the Burbank Building, formerly

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