Ilion High School - Class of 1962

Herkimer Evening Telegram - June 25, 1962

125 Win Diplomas From Ilion High

Article 1

Photo Caption - Principals at the 1962 Ilion High School Commencement are shown here from the left, Roger Fortuna, valedictorian; Joseph A. Baker, former principal and guest speaker, Harold B. Shelley, salutatorian; Leo J. Sammon, Jr., high school principal; George J. Friis, president of the Board of Education.

125 Win Diplomas From Ilion High

ILION - The 1962 graduating class of Ilion High School yesterday featured a talk by Joseph A. Baker, former principal, awarding of diplomas and prizes with Harold B Shelley and Roger Fortuna, receiving the most in individual prize monies.

The exercises were held in the Ilion Capitol Theater for the 125 graduates, parents and friends with Baker speaking on the topic, "A Pattern For Your future."

Selections were offered by the Ilion High School Orchestra under direction of John F. Turner followed by the invocation by Rev. Gregory Mulhall, pastor of the Church of the Annunciation.

Shelley, salutatorian, spoke on, "The Real Challenge," and Fortuna, valedictorian, "The Highest Calling – Duty."

The Orpheus Club directed by Neil Schleicher offered several selections and Rev. Arthur L. Lacey, pastor of the First Baptist Church gave invocation.

Presents Awards

Leo J. Sammon Jr., high school principal, presented awards as follows:

English, four years, given by the Loretta Douglas Memorial Fund, $10, Roger Fortuna; English literature term paper prize given to other than the valedictorian or salutatorian by the Ilion Historical Club, $5, Regina Stefanishyn.

American History, 11th year, given by Mohawk Valley Chapter, DAR, $10, Roger Fortuna; World History 10th year, given by Miss Barbara Schwarz in memory of her mother. Mrs. Anna Schwarz, $5, Dana Nelson.

Latin, three years, first, $10, Roger Fortuna; second, $5, Patricia Pellett; Spanish, three years, $10, Terrance McGrath; French, three years, $10. Margaret Keddell.

John Guy Prindle Memorial in Science, first. $10 and the Bausch and Lomb Medal, Harold Shelley; second, $5, Dana Nelson; highest average in physics, $10 and the R.P.I. Medal for Achievement in Science, Harold Shelley.

Proficiency in Secretarial Practice given by Women of the Moose, $10, Patricia Cowen; proficiency in Shorthand two years, $5, Pamela Sherman; office practice two years and typing given by Business and Professional Women's Club, $10, Linda Fama.

Industrial Arts and vocational shop three years, $10, Elwood Miller; mechanical drawing, $5, Michael Hodom; Art three years, Travelers Club, $5, David Dunning; Homemaking three years, Herkimer County Food Service Association, $5, Sharon Finnegan.

Mathematics and Science, six and one half units, first, $10, Harold Shelley, second, $5, Dana Nelson; Speech Arts given by V.F.W. Post 502, $5, Roseanne DeJohn; The Earl Parry Watkin Memorial for valedictorian, $20, Roger Fortuna.

V.F.W. Prize for salutatorian given by Post 503, $20, Harold Shelley.

Other Prizes

The Priscilla Burnham Memorial for piano, $10, Katherine Pratt; Outstanding attitude in instrumental music given by Local 383, American Federation of Musicians, $5, Robert Jones.

The Robert Kent Memorial in Music, $10 each to Margaret Keddell and Diane Dawson; V.F.W. Auxiliary prizes for progress, boy and girl. $10 each, William Burch, Sharon Finnegan.

The Diane Monteau Memorial for cooperation and attitude, $10, Sharon Walsh: Women of the Moose Nurses Training prize, $10 each, Karen Holt, Carol Holt: National Honor Society Scholarships, $35, each, Sharon Walsh, Linda Vernoy.

Police Benevolent Association prize for the most progress through individual effort and perseverance, $10 each, Deborah Miles, David Nichols; Leadership Progress by Zonta Club, $10, Dana Nelson.

The Earl Parry Watkin Scholarship, $400 to the person entering the teaching profession (a grant of $100 per year), Patricia Pellett. The I. Clark Seamans Scholarship, $300, given for one year to student entering either Syracuse University or Utica College, Paul Maxfield; Income from Clayton Memorial Scholarship presented by the family of Floyd and Elma Clayton to the student proficient in Mathematics and Science, $163.81, Dana Nelson.

The Hoard Memorial Award Trust Fund established by Nellie Hoard Weaver in memory of her parents to assist students going through college and award study grants, Patricia Pellet and Richard Thomas.

Beta Chi Rho Nursing Scholarship given to a girl entering a school for nurses training, Cynthia Engell, $100.

Donors and amounts acknowledged at commencement and awarded at the discretion of the principal and awards committee were as follows:

Remington Arms Company, $25; Philia Charity Sorority, $15; Oneida National Bank and Trust Company, $10; Marine Midland Trust Co., $10; Ilion Savings and Loan, $10; Elks Lodge, 1444, $10; and Ilion Masonic Lodge, $5.

Receives Diplomas

Academic Diplomas were presented to the following 125 pupils by Superintendent George Purple and Board of Education President George J. Friis:

Ronald Abeling,
Richard Adams,
Donald Applegate,
Marsha Applegate,
Constance Barnett,
Georgiana Barrett,
Raymond Bennett,
Sharon Bennett,
James Bergin,
Robert Bracken,
John Brewer, Jr.,
Michael Brown,
Andrew Bugal,
H. Lois Eileen (Hill) Burch.

William F. Burch,
Nancy Burdick,
Eileen Callahan,
Edward Joseph Capes,
Judith Capes,
Edward Cooke,
Judith Cormia,
James Corwin,
Patricia Cowen,
Ronald Custer,
Glenn Danforth,
Aubury Darrow,
Dianne Dawson,
Joseph Day

James DeJohn,
Rose Ann DeJohn,
Donald Desmond,
Cheryl Dodge,
Dennis Dodge,
William Drumm,
Beverly Dunckel,
David Dunning,
Marilyn Earl,
Cynthia Engell,
Linda Fama,
Ronald Farrington, Jr.,
Sharon Finnegan,
Germaine Foisy, Jr.

Roger A. Fortuna, Jr.,
Michael Greene,
Palmer Gregg,
Judith Gregory,
Donna Haslauer,
Michael Hodom,
Sharon Hoerner,
Thomas Hoffman,
Carol Holt,
Karen Holt,
Francis Jenne,
Gunter Johnson.

Robert T. Jones,
Margaret Keddell,
William Kelly,
Stanley Kozenewski,
Clara LaVasseur,
Dennis Leek,
Patricia Loftis,
Linda Ludden,
David Lyman,
Richard March,
Michael Mason,
Paul Maxfield,
Karen McCarthy,
Margaret McClave.

Michael McCormack,
Terrance McGrath,
Michael Merson,
Deborah Miles,
E. William Miller, Jr.,
Sandra Montgomery,
John Moody,
Dana Nelson,
David Nichols,
Lawrence Noffer,
Janet Orendorff,
Thomas Ortlieb,
Patricia Pellett.

Eric Perry,
Charlotte Platts,
Thomas Plunkett,
Cherie Prescott,
Robert Price, Jr.,
Donald Rasmussen,
William E. Reese, Jr.,
Shirley Richards,
Robert Rose,
George Schloieka,
Richard D. Schmitt,
Patricia Schneck,
Mary Alice Seymour,
Harold Shelley.

Joseph Shepherd,
Pamela Sherman,
Anthony Simonette,
Dexter Smith,
Francis Smith,
Audrey Spry,
William Staskus,
Regina Stefanishyn,
Richard Thomas,
Victor Tjeerdsma,
Sandra Todd,
Thomas Tresohlavy,
Jon Trosset,
Joanne Tuttle.

Donald Urtz,
Jill Urtz,
Bernard Valentine,
Linda Vernoy,
Gary Vogel,
Elaine Volo,
Donna Walby,
Sharon Walsh,
Raymond Wardle,
Jean Watchers,
Grace Watson,
Diane Williams,
Richard Worden,
Terry Wright.