When Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) High School decided to have a 50th anniversary celebration of the original school’s opening, current HSE Principal Matt Kegley thought it would be easy to find the date of the first school year. But he found that to be a little more complicated than he thought.
“The senior class graduating in the spring of 1967 were actually given the choice whether they wanted to graduate as Fishers Tigers or as Hamilton Southeastern Royals,” Kegley explained. “If you look back in the yearbook, you see sports teams with kids wearing both.”
So Kegley and other officials took into account that transition year and decided 2017 would be the 50th anniversary of the opening for Hamilton Southeastern High School. There was a much smaller building at the time of opening, but Kegley says some of that original building is still used to this day. The school slowly grew over the years with additions and renovations to the structure.
HSE High School has been celebrating the 50th anniversary for the past year, but Kegley and his staff are preparing for an Open House at the school from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 10.
“We’re trying to bring out some memorabilia, some yearboooks, some old uniforms,” said Kegley. There will be places set-up in the building where visitors may browse themselves, but student guides will also be available. The student choir, orchestra and band will be playing throughout the building during the anniversary event.