This Friday, the second annual fundraiser for the Cassidy Taryn Hagerman Scholarship fund will be held at B. Smith’s in Sag Harbor. The fund, which was created to help further a child’s education, is awarded at the end of the school year to a Pierson High School graduating senior.
On August 17 of last year, 19-year-old Cassidy Hagerman, a Pierson graduate and student at NYU, was driving alone on Route 114 in North Haven when her car hit a tree. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
Last Monday would have been Cassidy’s 21st birthday and her parents, Christie and Richard, are still struggling with her death. Her parents feel that by awarding a scholarship to a graduating senior, they will be able to continue their daughter’s legacy.
“Cassidy touched a lot of people and this is a way to give back,” Christie said.
Last year, seniors interested in applying for the scholarship sent letters to Katherine Cantrell, a close friend of Christie’s. Cantrell then interviewed the students. The letters were made anonymous and sent to Christie, so she could pick a winner.
The first winner of this year’s $2,000 scholarship was Corene Thommen, a 2008 Pierson graduate. Christie explained that the scholarship is awarded to the student who shows the most improvement from ninth to twelfth grade. Christie noted that the students at the head of the class always receive scholarship money upon graduating. With this scholarship, she and Richard wanted to do something for those who work hard and have completed some sort of community service.
“It is given to those students where college is only a desperate dream,” Christie said. She also said it will not be given to students attending private schools. “It’s not enough money to help children going to private colleges — but it would mean a lot to a child going to a state school.”
The winner of the scholarship receives half of the money for the first semester and the second half the following semester — which ensure the student is making passing grades in college. Christie explained that Len Bernard, the Sag Harbor School District’s business manager, handles all the proceeds for the fund and that none of the money goes directly to the Hagerman family.
“This year, we want to be able to give a scholarship to both a boy and a girl — and we hope it will be more than it was last year,” Christie said.
Friends of Cassidy help to put on the event for the Hagermans which Christie admitted is still too difficult for her.
“The blur is amazing,” a tearful Christie said of last year’s event. “I just said ‘I need help’ and then the phone calls came in and the kids took over, and I basically just showed up.”
The fundraiser for the Cassidy Taryn Hagerman scholarship begins at 7 p.m. at B. Smiths on Long Wharf in Sag Harbor. Admission is $55.
“It’s the same as a night for three people at the movies,” said Christie. “But it really makes a difference to a kid’s life.”
There will be appetizers served at B. Smiths, and the festivities will continue at Sen Spice beginning at 10 p.m. Christie encourages anyone who cannot attend to send a check to the school for the scholarship.
“It’s a way for my daughter to continue touching people’s lives,” Christie says. “And that is comforting to me.”
Those who would like to contribute to the scholarship fund may send a check made out to “Sag Harbor UFSD – Cassidy Hagerman Fund” and mail it to the school district, 200 Jermain Avenue, Sag Harbor, 11963. Envelopes should be marked for the Cassidy Hagerman Fund or sent to the attention of Len Bernard.