Ilion High School - Class of 1939

Utica Observer - April 9, 1939

Ilion High Senior, Graduate Achieve High Honors

Article 7

Ilion - Graduation, with special honor awaits Richard Frank, 18, son of Dr. and Mrs. Paul Frank, 48 John, St Ilion High School commencement in June.

The youth, described by his instructors as brilliant, has proved an exceptional student.

Although his high school education has been carried on in three schools, one in Germany and two in this country, his record will admit him to any American college.

Highly proficient in mathematics and natural science, Frank also ranks high in foreign languages, passing a fourth year examination in German in his sophomore year at White Plains. He also studied French and Latin.

Because local school authorities were unable to reconcile German and American high school ratings and the fact he completed but two of the four-year course in Ilion it is not possible to classify him with other honor pupils.

Frank will enter either Harvard or Swarthmore College this fall. He believes the American Educational system is superior to those in Europe. In Germany he was not allowed to choose his own work but was given a fixed schedule of eight subjects. This is greater than the usual assignments at Ilion high.

Miss Louise Snell, an honor pupil at Ilion High School three years ago, won fresh laurels the past week when she was named to the varsity debate team of Albany State College for Teachers.

Miss Snell is the fourth and youngest of the all-girl debate team which carried Ilion-high to the national finals in 1934. Only 14, she was the youngest debater ever to take part in the event. Others in the team were Virginia Casey, Elizabeth Shaffer and Florence Singer. Earl Plenty was their coach.

Now a sophomore at Albany College, Miss Snell qualified for a place on the varsity by making the freshman debate team. She is majoring in English and social science.

A member of the socialized medicine committee she will-he at Cornell for three days and will take part in the state debate beginning Apr. 26. She will debate on "Pump Priming" at Hartwick Apr. ]4. and has many home-and-homa debates slated for the rest of the term.

Miss Casey graduated from Syracuse and is a teacher of music at Glenfleld. Miss Singer graduated from Cornell and is debate coach at Mohawk. Miss Shaffer is in her senior year at Albany College. All the girls made the debate teams at their various colleges.