Ilion High School - Class of 1942

Ilion Sentinel - June 25, 1942

Ilion Class Sees America Thru Eyes Of Syrian Yankee

Article 17

A short, stocky man with a shock of black hair who called himself a shoemaker stood before the graduating class of Ilion High School at the commencement exercises Tuesday evening and gave them a challenge of almost fantastic hardship and accomplishment.

To this American citizen, born in Syria, the knowledge at the age of 13 of his citizenship "was like a door opening to heaven." Salom Risk was 19 before he gained that "heaven" but his experiences since that time have bred in him a compelling patriotism which surged throughout hit speech

This man, who as a boy knew the incredible hardship of a Syrian village, burned and looted, its people enslaved under the boot heels of World War Armies, knows also what America means. He gave his audience the opportunity to see that America through his eyes.

Mr. Rick reminded hit listeners of the great economic and social problems which still remain to be faced and solved here and told the graduates that in those problems lay their greatest challenge and greatest opportunity.

Richard Van Wiggeren gave the salutatory, "Education for War," and Frank B. Soules. the valedictory, "Education for Peace." The Rev. E. O. Lore gave the invocation and benediction and music was furnished by the High School Band and Varsity Choir.

Principal J. Guy Prindle in awarding prizes announced that two members of the class, Charles Jarvis and Soules, had received $2,000 and $1,500 scholarships, respectively, from Harvard University and the Eastman School of Music. He also announced that the graduates had invested $350 in war savings bonds, to mature to 13 years, as a memorial to their late class member, David (Rocky) Cramer.

The following received first prizes of $5 and second prizes of $3.50, according to their listing: English, Soules, Van Wiggeren; mathematics, George Johnson, Soules; history, the Cornelia Nagle pries, Jarvis, Martha Davala; Latin, Betty Supply, Raymond Donohue; French, Soules, Robert Parsons; science, Jarvis, Miss Supplee; commercial, Dorothy Zeh, Louise Sheffield; Industrial arts, Johnson, Thomas Walters; music, tie between Soules and Van Wiggeren; art, Herbert Senn, William Venema; home economics, Virginia Pollock.

Other prizes and their value Travelers, $3.50, Senn; Historical. $3.50, W. Burger; shorthand and transcription, $2.50, Miss Davala; mechanical drawing two years, $2.50, Raymond Bulbs; American history, Jarvis; the Peters prize, $10, Barbara Murray, Bernard Murray; Vanity Club trophy, Harrison Culver; the Leaver trophy, for outstanding scholarship- and athletics, Murray; dramatics, $2.50, Paul Wagner; RPI medal, five units of mathematics and science, Jarvis; Bausch and Lomb medal, three-unit* of science, Jarvis; Stone and Luke scholarship cup, Class of 1944, accepted by John Monahan, president; DAR good citizen, Miss Supplee; Becker College Commercial pin, Miss Zeh, and American Legion oratorical contest, Nancy Allen.