Ilion High School - Class of 1944

The Ilion Sentinel - June 29, 1944

Unusual Features Mark High School Commencement Exercises

Article 1

A challenge to cherish and keep the principles of democracy and human liberty that our founding fathers left us as a heritage, was voiced Tuesday night by Major James K. McDaniel, Senior Chaplain at Rhoads Hospital, the 90 graduates of the Ilion High School at the annual graduating exercises at the Capitol Theatre.

"We have too long taken good things like freedom and a democratic government for granted," stated Major McDaniel. "Democracy is not a gift, it is a virtue and it is the responsibility of each generation to keep it alive."

"Our glorious country was not an accident, it took blood, sweat, toil and tears to bring it about," Major McDaniel traced the history of the United States and concluded, " Our liberties were formed by those founding fathers, who came to our shores because they were willing to fight and die for the precious gifts of religious freedom and liberty.

He concluded by saying "Your generation will do a better job than the one that preceded it. Some of you boys and girls will soon be wearing the uniform of your country. When you leave America for service in the armed forces, you will become an ambassador of good will. Never cease to honor and respect your country and if need be, die for it."

Major McDaniel was introduced by Superintendent Earl P. Watkin, who stated that he was the youngest major in the Chaplain Corps of the U. S. Army.

The graduates marched in to a processional march played by the high school orchestra, and invocation was pronounced by the Rev. James A. Nolan, pastor of the Church of the Annunciation.

In her salutatory address on "Our Outlook as Wartime Graduates" Jean Lyon first expressed the thanks of the class to the school, faculty and community, who has made their education possible.

She stated that this class was the third to graduate since the war began and said that this fact brought to the young people of today an unusual opportunity for development.

"Any one who thinks today, receives the nation's thanks tomorrow," she stated. "Our past four years of study have been training us to live in the world of tomorrow."

Joyce Chismore, valedictorian, spoke on "The Challenge of Science." "We know practically nothing about the universe." she declared. "Nylon, synthetic rubber and the sulpha drugs are examples of what science can offer humanity. Materials provided by nature are all about us and our generation can conduct a treasure hunt for truth."

She concluded by bidding farewell on behalf of her class to her schoolmates and teachers.

A play "Retreat in Washington" was staged by members of the class. The action took place in front of a beautiful painted backdrop representing the interior of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington.

Graduates taking part were: Edward McKenna, Eleanor Nuese, Ernest Woolver, Margaret Mullen, Allan Murray, Joanna Lindstrom, Roy Edick and Bruce Stouten.

The verse choir and the voice choir provided an interesting background.

The varsity choir sang two selections, one of which "There Are Such Things," had been requested by Lt. William Momberger, Ilion High school graduate and Air force pilot, who was killed in action in England on March 9 of this year.

Before awarding the prizes, J. G. Prindle, principal, expressed his thanks to Mrs. Veronica Donnelly, art supervisor and Robert Steinburg and their helpers for the impressive stage setting for the play.

Two new prizes were given this year. The William Momberger Memorial Prize given for the best work in pre-flight, went to Roger Hunt, and the Robert Kent Memorial plaque awarded to a student with the highest scholastic average who taken part in two major musical activities, went to Virginia Ashley. This award to to be inscribed yearly with the name of the winner, who is given a pin.

Other awards went to:

English, first prize, Joyce Chismore; second, Margaret Mullen;
Mathematics, first, Joyce Chismore; second, June Ellen Murray;
Cornelia Nagel History Prize, first, Thelma Preston, second, Jean Lyon;
Latin, first, Donna Smith; second, Margaret Mullen;
Modern languages, first, Joyce Chismore, second, Donna Smith;
Commercial, first, Florence Cashman, second, Doris Seymour;
Industrial Arts, first, Raymond Johnson, Kenneth Raasch;
Music, Theodore Ronsvalle;
Art, first, Ethel Taylor, second, Lillian Farley;
Home Economics, Lillian Farley;
Shorthand, Mary Dayton;
Mechanical Drawing, Raymond Johnson;
American History, Joyce Chismore;
Dramatics, Dorothy Fay;
R. P. I. Medal, Joyce Chismore;
Bausch and Lomb Medal, Joyce Chismore;
Becker College pin, Florence Cashman;
The Lever Cup being awarded to John Hilliard;
The Madeline Peters Citizenship prize went to Donna Smith and Roy Edick.

Hamilton Fay, president of the of Education, and Superintendent E. P. Watkins presented the diplomas. Five members now serving in the armed forces, were not present to receive their diplomas. They were Lockhart W. Armstrong, Thomas Hanley, Charles Frederick Pooler. Charles D. Warburton and John Francis Smallwood.

An unusual event took place in the awarding of diplomas. When Wiley White, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo R. White of 38 Barringer Road. Ilion, marched up to receive his diploma, he wore the uniform of the Army of the United States.

This is the first time in the history of the Ilion school that a diploma has been issued to a man, who at the time, was serving in the armed forces.

A lucky co-incidence of a "delay in route" enabled him to be home to receive his diploma in person.

The rest of the class included:

Academic:

Marjorie Greeves Anderson,
Virginia O. Ashley,
Nancy A. Babcock,
Catherine Elizabeth Bailey,
Shirley Jane Bird,
William R. Burger,
Joyce S. Carroll,
Florence M. Cashman,
Irene H. Cashman,
Howard Cook,
Nancy E. Daily,
Anne E. Damon,
Mary B. Dayton,
Rose J. DeSano,
Eileen Helen Edick,
Lillian Margarette Farley,
Dorothy Jean Fay,
Jean C. Harter,
Lois J. Hayes,
Paul J. Hoffman,
Jean F. Hungerford,
Roger A. Hunt,
Beverly Johnson,
Raymond L. Johnson,
Catherine A. Kasper,
Enid June Knapp,
Annabelle A. Knewasser,
Edward J. McKenna,
Marion Ruth Markfey,
Francis A Marley,
Theodore L. Melnick,
Elisabeth D. Mesick,
Jean Lodwick Miles,
June Lodwick Miles,
Ella Dyme Momberger,
Gerald W. Morgan,
Allan John Murray,
June Ellen Murray,
Betty M. Nason,
Ruth Norton,
Eleanor Marie Nuese,
Garnet H. Perrigo,
Kenneth W. Raasch,
Frederick C. Reynolds,
Theodore Ronsvalle,
Carmella Rose Salvaggio,
Bruce Leonard Scouten,
Doris Carolyn Seymour,
William A. Slocum,
William T. Smith,
Ethel Margaret Taylor,
Margaret Mary Vayo,
Nancy Jane Waters,
Dorothy H. Wheeler,
Ernest C. Woolver,
Alice M. Young,
Mary O. Zipko.

College Entrance:

Marian Therese Bachman,
Barbara J. Bowdish,
Eleanora T. Cahill,
Joyce Mary Chismore,
Shirley Jane Cramer,
Sally E. Edgett,
Roy W. Edick,
Shirley A. Griffith,
Lois Marguerite Hall,
Mary M. Helmer,
Jean Ann Hilliard,
Elizabeth Mary Jones,
Alice E. Kennah,
Joanna Rose Lindstrom,
Jean Elizabeth Lyon,
Theresa Mackin,
Margaret Jean Mullen,
Thelma Lois Preston,
Nancy Rudd,
Donna Marie Smith,
Eleanor Ann Aracy.

General:

Emile J. Dufort,
Carolyn Hoeschele,
Margaret B. Pickett,
John Leo Scott,
Bette Jane Stephenson,
June W. Wedemeyer.