A Century of Academic Excellence
by Laura Breen Galante
Lyman High School is celebrating its centennial anniversary this year, and its students, staff, and alumni are gearing up for a roaring good time.
Leading the way in the celebrations is Michael Hunter, Lyman’s current principal.
“This is a special school year at Lyman as we honor a century of excellence, tradition, and community spirit,” says Principal Hunter. “This milestone is not just a celebration of our past, but a commitment to our future. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, and it is our responsibility to continue their legacy of excellence. Together, we will strive to inspire, educate, and empower the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and innovators.”
Laying the Foundation
Lyman’s story began in the early 1900s when its namesake, Howard Charles Lyman and wife Emma Abbott Lyman, decided to winter along Lake Orienta, which was then considered the Altamonte Springs area. In 1920, Seminole County separated from Orange County and the city of Altamonte Springs was established. Growth followed, and bigger schools were needed. At the time, the educational system consisted of two small schoolhouses in Altamonte and Longwood. It was decided that Altamonte and Longwood would consolidate into one school, while the community of Lake Mary would get its own building.
The Altamonte-Longwood building’s cornerstone was laid at a ceremony hosted by the Longwood, Sanford, and Altamonte Masonic lodges in August 1924, just a month after Howard Charles Lyman’s death. Due to his help in creating the district, the school was named Lyman and officially opened in September 1924. Two years later, Professor Herbert Chaffer added new features to the school, and under his administration, Lyman became an accredited junior high school. Increased enrollment required six new rooms to be added to the building.
By 1929, Lyman School was accredited through 12th grade. In 1963 it was renamed Lyman High School. Six years later, it moved to a newly constructed, state-of-the-art campus about a quarter-mile to the north, and the original Lyman campus became R.T. Milwee Junior High School. The nearby Sanford-Orlando dog track opened in 1935 and eventually led to the selection of the greyhound as the Lyman mascot.
In 1970, Seminole County transitioned to a middle-school concept, and all existing junior high schools (which until this point hosted students in grades six through nine) were redesigned as middle schools for grades six through eight. High schools, including Lyman, now featured grades nine through 12.
A Growth Spurt
Tremendous growth in South Seminole County led to double school sessions at Lyman. Under this model, about half of Lyman’s students attended school from 7:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., while the second half arrived at 11:30 a.m. and were dismissed at 6:00 p.m. This schedule allowed instruction for more than 2,000 students in a building originally designed to house only 1,500. For the first time, portable classrooms were also utilized.
Over the next decade, Teague Middle School and Lake Brantley High School opened, and Lyman was refurbished to house more students. Its first four-year student class graduated in 1974. It was the largest graduating class at the time, with more than 740 students.
As principal from 1963 through 1994, Carlton Henley played a huge role in the development of Lyman High School. He was largely responsible for bringing approximately $900,000 in grant money to the school and Seminole County. During his long tenure, Principal Henley had a hand in developing one of the most highly technological high schools in the state, created a double-period schedule for students, a dropout prevention program, and a staff development program for teachers. He also led the development of a comprehensive athletic facility, impressive across the state.
Party Like It’s 1999 (Because It Was)
In 1999, Lyman celebrated its 75th anniversary, and the Lyman High School Hall of Fame was created.
The year 2000 marked the first year of Lyman’s new magnet program, the Institute for Engineering and Technology. Under principal Sam Momary’s leadership, many renovations took place, including a new kitchen for the food preparation and nutrition classes, additional classroom buildings to house the expanding population, and a new performing arts facility, complete with an auditorium, dance studio, and band room.
In 2004, the engineering curriculum underwent upgrades, and Lyman welcomed both a new rowing team and the introduction of solar energy to the school. The football team began its 2013 spring training program with a unique set of sprints, pitting the fastest Lyman High Greyhound students against greyhound dogs from the Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club. The fast-paced event was a fundraiser to support retired greyhounds. Beginning in 2016, Lyman High received an “A” school grade for three consecutive years.
The school has continued in its pursuit of specialized academics, offering a Magnet Program – the Academy of Engineering, which includes more than 700 of the school’s students – plus a Program of Emphasis, the Academy of Building & Design.
“For 100 years, Lyman High School has been responsible for learning, growth, and achievement. Our halls have witnessed countless stories of success, resilience, and transformation,” says Principal Hunter. “From our dedicated teachers and staff to our hardworking students and supportive families, many have played a vital role in shaping the legacy of Lyman High School. These are the words I share every morning with our students: ‘We are historic, we are diverse, we are inclusive, We are Lyman!’”
A Rip-Roaring Good Time
Current and alumni Greyhounds are set to celebrate the school’s century of excellence with a 100 Year Homecoming Tailgate and a Roaring Centennial Gala.
The tailgate, featuring food, fun, and reconnecting, will be on Friday, November 1.
The gala, for ages 21 and older, will be on Sunday, November 24 at the Orlando Marriott Lake Mary Ballroom. The ticketed event will feature a roaring 1920s theme, with a VIP speakeasy at 5:30 p.m., followed by the main event at 6:30 p.m. Proceeds from the gala and other fundraising efforts will go toward refurbishing Lyman’s track and turf field to include a new, rubberized game surface.
https://gofan.co/event/1542952 Click here for tickets.
Raising the Roof
Lyman High School already has a century of academic success to its credit. Now, one of its newest programs – which falls under the umbrella of Career and Technical Education (CTE) – is giving the school even more things to brag about.
Noemi Marinez, a CTE student, recently won a silver medal in the national SkillsUSA contest for commercial roofing. After winning at the district and state levels, Noemi traveled to the national competition in Atlanta, where she had up to eight hours to completely roof a 10-by-12 platform. Her project, which included placing and sealing up to three vents in varying shapes, had to meet commercial roofing specifications.
She learned these skills thanks to CTE classes offered through Lyman’s Academy of Building & Design, led by Paul Allen. This Program of Emphasis guides students in four modules of study: HVAC/R (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration); general building trades and construction (including carpentry and plumbing); electrical; and welding.
Paul, who worked as construction superintendent for the Florida Department of Corrections before switching to the education field, says students who follow a progression of courses earn high-school credit and the opportunity to secure industry certifications that will set them up for work upon graduation. Depending on the trade, graduates can either move into an apprenticeship program or begin working in the field immediately.
Any high schooler within Seminole County Public Schools can choose to attend this program at Lyman, which also offers after-school, eighth-period HVAC and electrical classes for students who wish to stay in their zoned schools. Lyman has also added welding for the 2024-25 school year.
The CTE program is one way for students to kick-start a career, at no cost to themselves.
“Hopefully we can get the word out and get more students interested in having a career in the trades,” says Paul.
