Ilion High School - Class of 1954

The Herkimer Evening Telegram - June 30, 1954

89 Receive Ilion High Diplomas at Exercises

Article 3

ILION VALEDICTORIAN --- Ruth McKelvie, valedictorian of the Ilion High School graduating class, is shown addressing fellow students and parents and friends at Commencement exercises last night.

ILION --- Eighty nine young men and women received diplomas from Ilion High School last night during Commencement exercises held in the Capitol Theater.

The program opened with numbers by the Ilion High School Orchestra, "Marche Militaire" by Franz Schubert and "War March of the Priests" by Mendelssohn Robert O. Weiler was director.

The Rev. Stanley Thomson, who recently resigned the First Baptist Church pastorate, pronounced the invocation and benediction The salutatory, "Small Town Girl" was given by Miss Sylvia Leistyna and the valedictory, "A Look at the Teaching Profession," by Miss Ruth McKelvie.

Frances Johnson, trumpet soloist played "A Trumpeter's Lullaby," by Anderson, following which the speaker of the evening, Cameron Ralston discussed "The Golden Tassel." Miss Leistyna, accompanied by Miss McKelvie, sang "If I Could Tell You." The Eleven Belles, directed by Arthur Dauten, vocal instructor at the school, "Halls of Ivy."

Presents Prize

Richard Everhart, acting principal, awarded these prizes: English, Ruth McKelvie, first; Edna Nelson second; Mathematics, Ruth McKelvie, first, Sylvia Leistyna, second; social studies, three years, Sylvia Leistyna; American History, Sylvia Leistyna; Latin 3 years, Sylvia Leistyna and Younger Power, second. Also, Spanish two-years, Gerald Birr; French three-years, Ruth McKelvie; John Guy Prindle memorial prize in science and the Bausch and Lomb medal, Sylvia Leistyna and Younger Power. Also, shorthand two-years, Edna Nelson; office practice, two-years, Patricia Sponburg; industrial arts and vocational shop, three-years, Paul Lupinski; mechanical drawing, 1-2-3, Larry DelGrego; art three-years, Nancy Adams; mathematics and science, five units, RPI medal, Sylvia Leistyna and Younger Power.

Also, speech, John Getman, Priscilla Burnham prize for piano Ruth McKelvie; Robert Kent Memorial prize in music, Frances Johnson, instrumental and Sylvia Leistyna, vocal; VFW prizes for improvement, James Manion, Barbara Garlock; Diane Memorial, Sally Harter.

Also, Ralph Peters Memorial for good citizenship, Michael Letts and Ruth McKelvie, Lever cup for excellence in athletics and passing of regents subjects, William Steele; Priscilla Burnham trophy for girl's athletic ability and passing regents, Sally Harter; Coaches trophy, Dave Bouck and Sammy Leonis.

A special scholarship award of $250 awarded for the first time this year went to Guy Gurski. George Johnson, treasurer of the Class of 1942, presented the award from the class which bought the most government bonds that year. The award is to be called the Rocky Cramer Memorial.

Ralston urged the graduates to be "realistic" about world conditions which are he pointed out, in the forefront today.

"Your sense of direction is more important than the speed with I which you go," he said, cautioning against too much "physical and moral" speed, a common fault I among Americans, he pointed out.

"Know where you are going! even if you never get there," he I said. "Have an objective. Find yourselves a Holy Grail and go toward it."

Receive Diplomas

Mrs. Lena Morton, vice-president of the Board of Education, and Joseph A. Baker, who has been acting superintendent of schools, awarded diplomas to:

Ralph W. Abeling,
Nancy L. Adams,
Duane V. Allen,
David Angell,
Barbara Joan Babcock,
Gerald R. Birr,
Larry Bortel.

Also,
Lawrence Bradford Bosquet,
David E. Bouck,
Dolores Jean Bouck,
Nancy L. Bower,
John Albert Bowers,
Peter Lewis Boyle,
James E. Bracken,
Gladys I. Briggs,
Thomas H. Brown,
Dorothy J. Bruso,
John F. Collins,
Charles W. Conley,
Norma Rae Conte,
Anne M. Corwin,
Alfred C. Costello.

Also,
Lawrence S. DelGrego,
Sheila C. DelGrego,
Ronald E. Denison,
Michael E. DeRocco,
Robert W. Donahue,
Anne S. Dougherty,
James William Duffy,
Randall W. Durgee,
Anna Mae Edgar,
Phyllis J. Edgar,
Elizabeth L. Engells,
Barbara Jane Fager,
David Clarence Getman,
John L. Getman,
Carole F. Gollegly,
Pauline Sarah Goss.

Also,
Guy S. Gurski,
Sally May Harter,
James H. Henry,
Marjorie Ann Hicks,
Marion Mae Holmes,
Kathleen L. Horan,
Robert N. Houseknecht,
Phyllis Jean Jennott,
Frances E. Johnson,
Richard E. Kinville,
Kenneth E. Klippel,
Sylvia F, Leistyna,
Samuel Leonis,
Michael A. Letts,
Richard E. Lewis,
Robert J. Loomis,
Paul Francis Lupinski,
James P. Manion.

Also,
John S. Manley Jr.,
Joan Marie McDaniels,
Ruth Marie McKelvie,
Marjorie Ruth Mead,
Charlotte Marie Myers,
Theresa G. Nalezny,
Edna M. Nelson,
Charles A. Noll,
Carol Ann Parks,
Marilyn J. Phillips,
Loretta R. Pierce,
Ruth Carolyn Pollock,
Younger Power,
Marlene J. Rands.

Also,
Shirley A. Rasmussen,
John J. Remis,
Loraine J. Seymour,
Kathryn J. Smith,
Garland Sponburgh,
Patricia Ann Sponburgh,
Sally Ann Spraker,
Robert J. Steele,
William E. Steele,
William D. Stilwell,
Beatrice M. Strait,
Nancy Ann Tetlock,
Donald E. Thom,
Carl William Tuttle.

Also,
Niel [Noel] Owen Williams,
Barry Joseph Wilson,
Leslie R. Wilson,
John F. Yavornitzki,
Nancy Mae Youda.

Note - Kathryn J. Smith and Carl William Tuttle appeared in the article but did not appear in the 1954 Mirror. Gail Furlong, Benjamin Metz, Janet Smith, and Lyle Trevor did not appear in the list of graduates but are in the 1954 Mirror. Niel Owen Williams is listed as Noel Williams in the 1954 Mirror. Leslie R. Wilson is listed as Richard Wilson in the 1954 Mirror.