The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-05
TUESDAY BIZ DAY OF COMMENCEMENT Drill in Afternoon Arouses
 Highest Interest BUILDINGS INSPECTED Captain Andrews Wins Company Prize, Sword-Regimental Medal
 Won by Sergeant Dickinson
 of Company H
BUILDINGS INSPECTED

Auburn, June l-(Special.) )-Tuesday was the big day of Auburn's commencement. Beginning with the alumni exercises In the morning everyone was busy; commence ment was at its height
 It was with the company competitive: drills in the afternoon that the highest interest was aroused. The company drills and the individual drill for the regimen tai medal is the big event of commence ment. The eight active companies or the regiment each take part In the compeu- tiye drill for the battalion sword, for which prize each captain has drilled his early and late for two months.
 The sword was won by Capt C. T. An drews of Company E, Macon. Ga. Ills sponsor was Miss Nellie Wood Wiley Of 
 Interest was intense. Each sponsor and maid was enthusiastic; each company had it's rooters to the men who drilled the fate of their companies was mat ter of life and death. The drill was held in the afternoon, beginning at o'clock, but the decision of the judges was withheld until evening
 Langdon hall was packed at the evening exercises There were senior orations. and good ones. too, but the interest of everyone was in the big event, the an- nouLcement by Doctor Thach of the win ner of the prize sword. That was the last thing, and boys and girls squirmed un- easily and nervously In their seats through the long exercises. When the winner was announced the men of his company went wild: he was called to the stage by Dr. Tbach and the sword was presented by his sponsor.
 Individual Drill
 The other big event of the day was the individual drill for the regimental medal. It was won by Sergt. E. A. Dickinson of Company H. Four men. the best drilled four. were entered from each company, and were drilled down by the judges, un- til only the winner was left. The judges for the company and individual drill were C. M. McMurray and R. E. Jones, lieu tenants attached to the Seventeenth United States infantry, Atlanta, Ga
 Each captain had been provided with a sheet of formations which he was re- quested to execute, the one after the other, without pause The simplest and best executions were accounted desid- erata in the competition.
 Winners of Company Medals
 After the drill of each company it's sponsor presented to It's best drilled nan the company medal. won after a eries of contests. The company medals went to: Company A, Frank Auburn; Company B. c. $. Noble. Anniston: Company c. c. H. Tay- or, Auburn Company D, M. Pipkin, Florida Company F. E. Busey. Morgan Company F. T. R. Mathews. Auburn; Company c. J. S. Gillespy, Bir- Company H, E. A. Dixon. Mississippi.
 Throughout the afternoon the me- ,hanic art laboratories. the library, ex- pertinent station, the drawing rooms chemical laboratories, the museum and other show places of the college were on exhibition. The walls of the draw ng rooms were covered with drawings which the college men had produced n their work in architecture. machine lesign, structural engineering and oth- sr branches of the engineering instruc- ion. In the laboratories other speci- mems of the Auburn mans art and craft were on exhibition. And creditable show it made. Hundreds of visitors passed through the college buildings and shops during the afternoon.
 Senior Class Orations
 At night, before the award of the prizes, were the senior class orattons. de- ivered by the brag orators of the se- nior class. The speakers, with their subjects, were. A. P. Aldrich Jr., South Carolina The Destiny of the United States;" w. B. Nickerson, Jacksons Sap "Education for Efficiency" S. R. ,ruse, Huntsville The Power of an [deal;" J. L. Lilies, Jefferson county, The Industrial Awakening of the South"
 Following the orations, prizes were awarded by pr. Thach to those men who were winners in various contests )r whose work In various departments had been exceptional. The following prizes were awarded: Medal for best 1ebater. Websterian Literary society, E. c. Leach, Dadeville; best debater. Wirt society, w H. Hudson. Pryiton, W. H. Thomas essay medal, J. A. Key, St. Petersburg. Fla; junior class ora torical medal, l. E. Quinn. Marion coun- ty; agricultural prizes for best essays on subjects pertaining to agriculture, junior class, D. c. Sullins, first, w. c. Waller, second; senior prizes, Isaac Handley, first; V. P. Atkinson. second; J. L. Lilies, third; M. F. Nixon, fourth. The prizes in the agricultural contests were improved farm implements and to farm journals, all or which were donated by manufacturers and publishers. The agricultural con- tests will be annual affairs. The Idea of securing prizes to be thus awarded was conceived and executed by M. F. Nixon. a student in senior agriculture and secretary of the Agricultural club. The band medal was won by [. C. Wright of Auburn.