Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-06-17
DIPL OMAS PRESENTED 43 GRADUATESAT
44TH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES; /
DR.. VICkERS TALKS OF NEWER PROBLEMS.
H0N0RS ANNOUNCED
Misses StiIIWelI And Hardy
And Mr.. Geyer In Honorary
0ratiOnS.


Diplomas OF graduation We're pre-
scented to forty-three students, three
of them conditionally. Of the Martins.
burg High School yesterday after
noon at the forty-fourth annual COM
mencement exercises, held for the
first time i'll the Apollo Theatre be-
cause OF tho crowded conditions
which have followed the graduation
exercises in tho High School audi.
torium. The graduates. wearing cap
and gown, with the Board of Edu-
cation. Principal Miller, Mr. Rudd,
superintendent Morton, and DR.. II.
II. Vickers, of the University, tho
latter the orator of the occsaion,
were seated on the stage. receiving
their diplomas at tho head of Presi.
dent w. S. Bert, of the Board OF Ed
ucation. With the touch of their
diploma the graduates, until that
time students in the school. shifted
the tassel OF their academic cap to
the right, symbolizing the final act
Of graduation.
Superintendent Morton WAS In
charge of tho exercises, and intro
duced DR.. Vickers. He explained to
the audience, which filled comforta-
bly, tho theatre, why the Board had
changed tho scene of the exercises
to the theatre, and asked for an ex'
preston of opinion from the friends
and parents present as to their view
Of the change; and the answer was
interpreted "a an approval OF tho
change. Superintendent Morton also
indicated the need of new high
school building, adding that 1t must
come before long,-1nd this Same
thought was echoed in remarks
made by President Bert and Prin-
cipal Miller, while it furnished the
principal theme of the Class Essay
by Albert Gerling Geyer. The pro
gram Of the schools during the year,
high and grade, was witnessed by
Mr.. Morton who reported commenda'
BILE improvement.
Honors were also awarded at the
exercises yesterday, the complete list
being printed in another column to
! day. The privilege of delivering the
commencement orations was extend
/ ed, as is customary, to the three
I highest honor students in the class
/ for their four-year period, the hon
ors falling to Miss Mildred Ashton
Stilwell as valediCtorian. Miss Ele
amor Hardy ms salutatorian and Mr.
Albert Gerling Geyer as class essay
ist.
Welcomed BY Sautatorian.
Miss Hardy, speaking for the class
Of 1921, extended a generous wei
como to the friends who gathered
for the exercises, expressing the APP
probation Of the class for the inter
est manifested, adding that the class
would have liked to be graduated
in the high school building but rec
ognized The wisdom in the change.
Mr.. Gayer turned back four years
for theme to the class essay writ
ten in 1917 in which Miss Katherine
Miller, e85ayist, painted q picture Of
an uptodatc school building, ample
for all purposes, fully equipped with
The machinery for intensive study
in all modern branches; and against
condition in which the high school
this picture he showed the actual
work, he says, finds itself sorely
cramped by reason of lack of faciIi-
ties. These conditions he detailed
somewhat mentioning in particular
The laboratories, insufficient faculty.
cTampcd library in which only three
students can work at the same time,
unsatisfactory athletic equipment
and facilities for play, and the alb.
sence Of manual training and domeb.
tic science departments. His mes.
sage was not ressimistic, however.
his specific charge TO the students
who arc to foll1w was that they
should make The best OF the equip
'nent which they have, recognizing
that after all neither equipment nor
students nor faculty make sue
ccssful student,-but IT requires u
combination Of all three with a will
ingne on the part of the student
to work
Miss SllWell as a yalcdictory eN-
pressed Ia appreciation Of the class
for those who had worked with them
during th four years Just closing
recalled pleasant memories Of thosr
days, and thanked tho friend for
their sympothotit Interest and l0f
support
Mr.. Miller Reviews Work
Principal Leo IT, Miller of IL.
TIiph School had q word Of corlia,