The Inauguration of Beacon College President, Dr. George J. Hagerty, Scheduled for February 21st

Leesburg, FL (January 17, 2014) On Friday, February 21st, Dr. George J. Hagerty will be inaugurated as the third president of Beacon College in Leesburg, FL. The formal installation ceremony will take place at 2:00 P.M. on the grounds of Beacon Hall, the recently constructed administrative and classroom building situated at the center of campus. A reception will immediately follow the event.

Members of the Beacon College community, including alumni and parents will be in attendance, and the public is welcome. About 500 guests are anticipated. The inauguration of Dr. Hagerty is an especially momentous event for the Beacon College community as it corresponds with the celebration of the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the College’s founding.

Dr. Hagerty began his tenure with Beacon College on June 1, 2013. His leadership came at a time when the College has proven itself academically and is now securing a national reputation for its unique mission.

In announcing the inaugural ceremony, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Eileen Marinakis, offered, “The Board of Trustees is anticipating with enthusiasm, President Hagerty’s formal installation as the College’s third President. His stewardship has brought a new energy and vision to our community, one that has already influenced in the months since his arrival the striking trajectory of our maturing and ambitious institution. This significant ceremonial occasion also serves as a fitting kick-off to our year-long celebration of the College’s Twenty- fifth Anniversary.”

Special events are planned on the Beacon campus in the days leading up to the Inauguration ceremony. The public is invited to attend these events as well. These celebrations include an art gallery opening with an exhibit featuring the work of Beacon College art Professors Russ Bellamy and Van Galyon scheduled from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Wednesday, February 19th, and an academic discussion panel entitled “Replacing Superstitions with Science,” an event scheduled for 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 20th in the Beacon College Student Center. Further details can be found on the College Inaugural Web pages.

Dr. Hagerty has enjoyed an illustrious career in higher education, working for the U.S. Department of Education in the arena of special education and serving for fourteen years as President of Franklin Pierce University during a period of dynamic transformation and growth.

Beacon College is the first four-year accredited college in the United States devoted exclusively to the undergraduate education of students with learning disabilities and ADHD. The year 2014 marks the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the College’s founding. The private 501(c)3 college was established in 1989 and is located in Leesburg, Florida. Educational programs are provided to college-age students who are diagnosed with learning disabilities or ADHD. Visit www.beaconcollege.edu for more information.