Ilion High School - Class of 1902

Utica Herald Dispatch - June 25, 1902

ILION COMMENCEMENT AT HIGH SCHOOL

Article 3

Ilion Commencement at High School

Exercises Held at the Opera House Last Night - Programme was of Usual Interest

Ilion, June 25, - Last night at the Opera House was held the twenty-ninth annual commencement of the Ilion High School. It was a gladsome occasion and demonstrated that a great interest is manifested in the success and welfare of the high school. The Opera House stage was beautifully adorned with ferns, daisies, buttercups and palms, the work having been done by the members of the junior class. Hanging at the rear of the stage was the motto of the class, "Veritas Vincit" (Truth Conquers), and each side was a representation of the Swastika (success), the class emblem, neatly worked upon a banner.

Superintendent Abrams presided and the Rev. A. S. Brown, pastor of the Baptist Church, offered the prayer.

The first speaker was the salutatorian of the class, Leon O. Ross, who delivered an oration on the "Duties of Citizenship." Florence Kamerer, the next speaker, gave an oration on the "Influence of the Italian Renaissance." After a selection by the orchestra Superintendent Abrams Introduced John G. Gordon, whose subject was "Centralizing Tendencies." "Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and the Caesar of History" was the subject of the oration delivered by Mary E. Butler. Donald C. Twiss delivered an oration on "The Interoceanic Canal" and made a strong argument for its establishment. Another selection by the orchestra and an oration on the "Moulding Events in American History'' by Gilbert W. Warren followed. The last speaker was Grace L. Avery, the valedictorian of the class, who spoke on "The New South." The presentation of diplomas was made by A. D. Richardson, A. B., president of the Board of Education, who in the remarks he made gave the class sound advice and expressed the hope that they would realize to the full the benefits derived from their studies.

The diplomas were granted as follows:

Classical course
John Graham Gordon.

Latin course -
Mary Elisabeth Butler,
Guy Weed Gordon,
Florence Kamerer,
Leon Gillette Ross.

Latin scientific course -
Mae Magdalen Connor,
Helen Agnes Hurley,
Gilbert Watson Warren.

English course -
Grace Leola Avery,
Mildred Arda Young.

Academic course -
Francis Martha Birdseye,
Margaret Laurence Merry,
Donald Craig Twiss.

The benediction was pronounced by the Rev. W. E. Taylor.

Going to Colleges

The following is a list of graduates and the colleges, and schools they will attend next year:
John Gordon - Syracuse University.
Miss Mildred Young - Albany Normal College.
Miss Grace Avery and Frances Birdseye will enter the training class.
Messrs. Leon Ross, Guy Gordon, Gilbert Warren will return to the High School for a post-graduate course.
Donald Lewis will take up pharmacy.
Miss Florence Kamerer will resume her musical studies