The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-06-08

WATERFOWL, June s.-The Taft
school held its 54th commenc
exercises here this afternoon at 2:30
in the Bingham Auditorium. The
Rev. Halford E. Luccock, Professor
Of Christian Ethics at the Yale
Divinity school delivered the COM
mencement address. The announce
ment Of honors and the presentation
of diplomas were made by DR.. Paul
r. Cruikshank, headmaster Of the
school. Henry D. Brigham. Jr., OF
Pittsfield, Mass, head monitor Of
the school, gave the class speech.
This was Taft's second commence
ment program for the year 1914
Thirty three members of the class
were awarded diplomas this after
noon and group of forty-two accel-
Grating seniors received diplomas at
the February graduation.
Valedictorian of the class was
Arthur D. Bliss, son Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Arthur P. Bliss Of so Randolph ave-
nue., Waterbury, Conn. Henry D.
Brigham, son Of Mrs. Henry D.
Brigham of $50 West street, Pitts
field, Mass, was salutatorian Of the
class.
Arthur D. Bliss, besides being
Valedictorian of the class, was
awarded the Rensselaer, Alumni as
ISOLATION medal for outstanding
work In mathematics and science.
He also won the prizes for excel
lence in public speaking and in
senior English.
Henry D. Brigham, Jr., was re-
Cipient of the Yale Taft scholar
ship, won the prize for excellence
in senior French, and took second
place In the upper school history
essay contest established by the
Watertown Foundation. First prize
in this history essay contest was
awarded two members Of the upper
middle class, Detlev vagts, son of
DR.. and Mrs. Alfred H. Vagts of
Charlottesville, Conn.,, and Frederick
Holborn, son of Mr.. and Mrs. Halo
Holborn Of 1742 Irving street, N. W.,
Washington, D. c., who elaborated
on the essay.
Richard Soderberg, son Of Mr. and
Mrs. Oscar A. Soderberg Of Univers-
ity Place. Crosse Pointe, Michigan,
was recipient Of the Bausch and
Lomb honorary science award, and
in collaboration with John Marion,
of Boston, Mass, won third prize
in the upper school history essay
contest.
]. Benham johnson. AS, son OF
DIR. and Mrs. Austin B. johnson of
226 0edarhurst avenue. Cedarhurst,
Long Island. N. Y, was recipient
of the Connecticut Harvard club
award.
william w. Brown, Jr., son Of Mr..
and Mrs. william w. Brown of 2030
Beverly Drive, Charlotte. North
Carolina, was recipient of the Inter-
club Gold medal for the highest in
'dividual score.
Delano w. Laid. Jr., son of Mr..
and Mrs. Delano w. Laid Of 757
West 9th street, Plainfield, N. j., who
was o member of the accelerated
group graduated in February, was
awarded the class of 1908 Gold
Mederal which is awarded to the
senior whose influence has done
most for the school.
David r. Powers as, son of Com
mander and Mrs. NJ. w. Powers OF
Woodmere Road, Tampa, Fla, was
awarded the New Boy Achievement
Medal, which is given to the New
Boy who contributed most gener-
ously to the success of the school
years through sound character, high
scholarship, and wholesome leader
ship.
Elected to Cum Laude, national
scholastic honorary society, were
Arthur D. Bliss of WATERFOWL,
Conn: Henry D. Brigham, Jr., Of
Pittsheld, Mass: John Lyman, Jr.
son Of Mr.. and Mrs. John Lyman