The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-06-01
AWARD OF MEDAL TO
G.E.H.S. CLASS
ORATORS
J. Vernon Finley and Dagmar
swarstad Receive Coveted
Medals.

AS was noted in the report in these
columns last evening, the 1906 COM
mencement of the Grand Forks high
school in holding yesterday afternoon
at the Metropolitan opera house, was
one of the most successful and best
attended of any in the history of the
local institution. The orations of the
class speakers, Guy B. Fairchild,
Ethel E. Barnard, Bess Hanson, ].
Vernon Finley, Dagmar Swarstad and
Edith Ball, were in course of delivery
yesterday at press time and the award
of medals was not made till late in
the afternoon. The successful ones
were j. Vernon Finley and Miss Swar-
stad. The committee on awards was
Rev. E. J.. Conaty, F. w. Wilder and
Samuel Torgerson. Father Conaty in
making the presentation of the prizes,
complimented all of the speakers very
highly and said 1t had been difficult
task indeed to decide between the sew
eral orators. The first prize was
awarded to Mr.. ]. Vernon Finley, and
the second prize to Miss Dagmar
Swarstad. The medals are magnifi-
cent in design and workmanship, of
solid gold. enameled in purple. They
are enclosed in elegant cases and bear
the inscriptions:
&c F. H. 8.
ORATORY
1906"
One of the happy moments in con-
nection with the exercises of the day
was that when the time for distribu-
ton of. sheepskfns arrived. Supt. ].
Nelson Kelly, on behalf of the board
of. education. presented the graduates
with their diplomas. and previous to
so doing made brief address to the
members of the class, in which he
said:
Young Ladies and Gentlemen: 1
take great pleasure in handing you
these diplomas, inasmuch as l know
that they have been richly deserved.
They mark the end of twelve long
years of faithful preparation for the
more serious duties of life. l trust
that they shall not only serve as a
memento of happy childhood and of
happy young manhood and woman
hood we'll spent, but that they shall
also serve to remind you of your obli-
cation to the public, and of your
duties and obligations to the repub-
lie. 1t seems to me, that on an occa-
sion like this everyone should lift up
his voice in thanks to Almighty God
that his lot has fallen in this blessed
land where everyone not only enjoys
civil and religious freedom, but can
also, If he will, enjoy the blessings of
liberal education.
These diplomas should also remind
you of the gift of gratitude you owe
to your parents whose loving care and
untiring efforts have enabled you to
occupy the position you enjoy today.
Finally, remember that the high
ways of learning bear no footprints
except those of ascending and de-
scending travellers! AS you have be-
gun SO may you continue faithful to
the end. Through the deep caves of
thought may each and every one of
you continually hear voice that
sings:
Build thee more stately mansions, oh
my soul,
AS the swift seasons roll!
Leave thy low vaulted path!
Let each new temple, nobler than the
Shut thee from heaven with dome
more vast,
Till thou at length are free,
Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's
unresting sea-"
I'm conclusion, in behalf of your
teachers and myself, l wish you
large measure of success and happi-
ness in all of your UNDERTAKINGS