Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1927-05-12
Commencement at
the State Normal
Finals Began With Play on Thursday
and Closed Friday Afternoon;
Interesting Figures Given

The commencement exercises of
the Appalachian State Normal began
on Thursday night after the exami-
nations on Wednesday and Thursday.
The Thursday nights exercises
was a play by the senior Normal
class for the benefit of the loan
fund. The large number present
greatly enjoyed the fine characterize
tion displayed by those taking part,
and more than $3.50 was realized
from the proceeds. On Friday morn
ing the class day exercises were
leld, followed by the literary address
by DR.. n W. Walker. dean of educa-
tion of the University of North
Caro- ina, whose subject was ''The
work and training that we are to ac-
complish after we have graduated
from college"
DR., J. D. Rankin delivered Giplo-
mas to the following graduates:
Annie Dula Beverly, Ruth Blair,
Billy Bollinger, Rean Cloninger, Mary
Culbreth, Betty Ruth Duncan, Jane
s Howell, Nancy E. Hunter, Mrs.
Ethel Brown Johnson, Naomi Lowery,
Mamie Rose Moore, Verda Bernice
Morgan, Leola Margaret Plyler,
Flora Mae McFadyen. Eva Miller,
Ruth Ncster, May Pittman, Ollie
Ray, Cynthia Pearl Reeves, Annie
Belle Regan. Mary Louise Regan, Lu-
ther Robinson, Mary Eugenia Short,
Mildred Virginia Spencer, Alta Nc
Swain, Gladys Rose Swift, Carrye Ida
Warden, John w. Warden, Kathryn
Wylie, Ethel Marie Zimmerman,
Elizabeth Bats Virgins, Alma Hoff-
man, Mrs. Levi league, Ruth Hunter,
Geneva Winecoff, Fay Mcintosh,
Rene w. Hovis, Mary Raper, Hosie
McNeill, Cornelia Crump, Esther
Beam, Mary E. Horton, Evelyn Mos
teller, Jane o. Osborne Elizabeth
Quinn, Willie Mae Robinson.
Those who received certificates
were: Paul Donnelly, Wendell Par
/ sons, Louise Coffey, Jay Curtis,
Charles Farthing, Howard Goodnight,
Paul Gourley, Frank Logan, Alvin
Outlaw, Troy Regan, Roy Robinson
Grady Tester and Howard Ashley.
Prof. J. NJ. Downum, the registrar,
gave some very interesting statistics
of the Normal co lege for the past
two years, some of which were:
Normal students for 1923-24, in
Guiding summer schools, III, with
l3 graduates; 1924-25, with summer
schools, l,02S, with "a graduates;
1856, also with summer terms,
1887 with SO graduates; from June
l, 1926, to May 6 1927, 1927 with
II graduates. Total registered for
the past three years 4,405; total
number Of graduates 164: Increase
in per cent for these three years in
number registered 1853 per cent, and
in graduation, 100 per cent. From
the rate of increase for these three
years, Prof. Downum was asked 10
give his estimate as to the number
he expected for the coming year, as
he has done for several years with
fair accuracy. He said that he eX-
pected $500 for the next year with
100 graduates.
The exercises, considered to have
been about the best ever he'd at the
school, closed with the class song
and benediction.
Friday afternoon came a declama-
ton contest for $500 in gold in
which Allen Ashley won, following
which the class day exercises of the
high school department, were held.
The summer school will open on
May 81, which is expected to be
record term, as a very large number
of applicants, numbering near 500
have already applied.