Evening star., 1926-06-13
EASTERN HIGH GIRL
Wins SESQU| TRIP
Roberta Harrison to Repre-
sent D. c. With Lawrence
J. 0'NeiIl, 18.

Seventeen-year-old Roberta Har
rison, Eastern High senior, won new
recognition for her school yesterday
afternoon when she was selected 81
a meeting held in the Franklin Schoo
to represent the District OF COlu =
bia in nationwide American youth
award contest being conducted by the
management of the Philadelphla
SeSquicentennial.
Lawrence J. O'Neill, IS years, who
was forced to abandon a free schol-
arship, intended to help qualify him
for the priesthood, on account OF
parental necessity, was voted the
most deserving boy at the same
meeting. O'Neill is employed at the
Washington Gas Light Company.
Both Miss Harrison and O'Neill
will be the guests of the Sesqulcen :
tennial management from June ~
10 July and will be presented with
gold medals and certificates by Pres
ident Coolidge while they are In
Philadelphia.
Acclaimed by Teachers.
Excellence in scholarship and out
standing prominence in the student
council and dramatic organizations
were responsible for Miss Harrison S
selection. She was sponsored by two
Eastern teachers, Miss Ella NJ. Monk
and Mrs. Helen D. Staples, who pro-
claimed her as representing the
finest type of young Womanhood.'
Father Francis J. Huiney and De
tective Sergt Thomas Walsh. were
O'Neilrs sponsors. They set forth
that O'Neill won a special scholar
ship awarded him for general eX-
ceIlence in his elementary schools
and desired to study for the priest
hood. "One year later" the state
ment adds, his fathers falling
health became too impaired for steady
work then the boy, who had early
learned to be ready for hero's
deeds voluntarily resigned his cher
ished scholarship, got a job, and en-
tered night school TO tit himself TO
support his father, mother and three
sisters
Thirty-five boys and girls gathered
to ballot among themselves for the
two of their number to be honored Dy
the exposition. After a number of
elimination ballots the contest for the
girls narrowed down to Miss Harrison
and Miss Wilhelminia Catherine Guide
with the former finally winning by q
vote of 19 to 16. O'Neill's closest rival
was George Mention Carpenter in the
last ballet, but the former won by a
decisive vote.
Teacher to Be Selected.
Z, c. Graham. president of the
Board of Education and active chair
man of the local youth award com
mittee, and Milton Fairchild. vice
chairman Of the committee, were in
charge of the meeting. Another
meeting will be held this week to de.
eide upon the Washington school
teacher, who will represent this city
in the American teacher award being
conducted simultaneously with the
youth award.
Both Miss Harrison and young
O'Neill are accomplished musicians.
The latter is said to be a premier
lyric singer" while Miss Harrison is
represented by her sponsors as IAN
accomplished violinist and singer
Miss Harrison is president of the Mer.
rill Club and was singled out as the
best player in Arms and the Man.,
the Eastern High School Spring play,
which won the coveted Brown cup.
Miss Harrison is the daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph o. Harrison, re-
siding at 636 ID street northeast. while
O'Neill is the son of John p. O'Neiil,
living at COZ Twenty street.
Each State in the Union is similarly
selecting a boy, girl and teacher TO
represent it in the youth and teacher
awards, and the entire group will be
taken on an extensive sightseeing
tour of the National Capital after
they have been feted at the Sesqui
centennial.