Annie Wright School - Shield Yearbook (Tacoma, WA)

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SEMINARY AWARDS TUDENT acKievement in fields of scholarship, citizenship, and athletics receive tangible recognition at the Seminary through various awards. These awards, presented either al Commencement or at the Athletic Banquet on May Day. are for the most part gifts of students, alumnae, and friends, who have chosen this nnhn nf lif winL tfieir intf re«it in the school and their affection for It. The Whiaih 1- lilt musi M min.ini ciward made by the Seminary. It is given in recognition of high character traits and was presented in 1955 by Mrs. James Munro Keen and Miss Helen Keen, of the class of 1912. in memory of Mr. James Munro Keen, secretary of the Board of Trustees at the lime of the building of the present Seminary. It is awarded at Commencement to the girl in the Upper School who is. or gives most promise of becoming: Gallant— more than courageous, meeting life ' s victories and de- feats with balance and a fine air. Steadfast— dependable and true at all times, whether the cause be for one s own interest or for the interest of others. Courteous— kind, gracious, understanding, tolerant, with a con- stant regard and respect for others. Visional— seeing life as a whole, with an ever-growing conception of one ' s boundless powers and possible accomplishments, cultivat- ing always the most important side of life, the Spiritual. The actual award is a small bronze wreath, which the holder re- tains for one year. Her name is inscribed on the scroll which hangs in the Chapel as a permanent record of those receiving this honor. The Lambeth Cup was presented by Bishop F. V. Kealor in 1920 on his return from a conference of Anglican bishops held at Lambeth Palace. London, traditional residence of the archbishops of Canterbury ' . It is given to the girl in the Upper School who attains the highest average for the year in college prepara- tory subjects and exemplifies fine citizenship qualities. On the base of the cup is a Latin inscription from the oraHons of Cicero chosen by Miss Preston, principal at the time the cup was presented: These pursuits aro nn om irii ' nt in provprritv and furnish a solace in adversity. 16

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reaches the top of senior stairs will be the luckiest of her class. After all have suc- ceeded in the mad scramble for the top. they descend together singing their step song. composed for the occasion: each class then sings its class song, and all classes together sing the Alma Mater. Senior Traditions The life of a Seminary senior is symbolized through many more traditions than those connected with May Day and Commencement. The senior is a creature set apart throughout the year, with many privileges to accompany her many duties. She li ves on the most convenient corridor, on which, by the way. are the two coveted rooms joined by a bath and hall, known as the suite. The front hall stairs are referred to as senior stairs. and may used only by faculty and seniors. If the late privilege has not been abused, they have only to sign their names in the office in order to stay up until ten -thirty on one night a week. Perhaps the most enjoyed of all prerogatives is their walkline privilege, which permits them to go downtown unchaperoned in groups of three on Saturday and for afternoon walks in the neighborhood. Though the seniors are no longer in choir after Easter vacation, they f orm the choir on Friday mornings. Seniors have sweaters in their class color, either cardigan or pullover, which they may wear on Mondays and Fridays. In the fall they burst in upon the study hall in their new sweaters. They march through the aisles singing their class song before linking arms in the front of the room to sing iheir sweater song. The social life of the senior also adds to the glory ol tins year. On the night of the Junior F rom the boarders depart. suitcase in hand, to the homes of senior day students where they spend the night and a lazy morning. The very peak of enjoyable activity comes the week following senior examinations. This Senior Week, composed of such entertainment as cruises, picnics, and teas, is eagerly awaited by the class all year. A picture of senior class traditions is incomplete without mention of the Spade. Soon after school opens in the fall, the new senior class zealously begin their search for the Spade, which last year s graduates hide during the first week. The seniors must find it before the Hallowe en party if they are to be able to attach to it a ribbon of their class color. The Spade is so crowded with yellow, red. green, and blue ribbons — and one black, denoting failure that it is easily seen to be one of the oldest Seminary traditions. Upon finding the Spade, the seniors bear it triumphantly to study hall, where they sing their Spade Song, composed in antici- pation of the occasion. On the Monday afternoon before graduation, the class presents the senior play, on which they have been working for many weeks. It is their aim to keep the name of the play a secret. The following day is memorable for the planting of the class tree and the Lantern procession. Then only Commencement itself re- mains — the culmination of a year of achievement and of fun. It is only natural that the graduating class, looking back on all the beautiful traditions in which they have participated, should regret leaving Seminary life. 15

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The Senior Scholarship Cup was presented to the school in 1930 by Cath- erine McPherson (Mrs. Brant Bernhard). a member of the graduating class of that year. It is awarded at Commencement to the senior who has maintained the highest average for the year. The Key, an award established by Miss Paula Frahm. a gymnasium teacher in the old school, is one of the highest honors bestowed by the Seminary. Though it is primarily an award of the Physical Education Department, its holder need not be outstanding in athletic performance. She must, however, possess fine sports- manship, leadership, and citizenship. The Key. an ordinary door key. is awarded a junior at the May Day Banquet. It is presented by the senior who has held it during the past year. She in turn is given a little gold key, to be hers permanently. Names of the holders of the Key are inscribed on a bronze plaque. The Art Plaque, designed and given by Phyllis Ann Dickman (Mrs. C. A. Johnson) in 1957. is awarded the girl in the Art Department of the Upper School who has showed the greatest improvement in art during the year. The Masque Players Awards were first presented in 1939. the year the drama club was organized. Silver medallions are given at Commencement to the three girls in the Upper. Middle, and l wer Schools who are judged to have made the most improvement in s| eech during the year. The Sportsmanship Plaque was the gift of Judy and Vera Fraser in 1938. It goes to the girl in the Upper School who. during the year, has conducted her- self in the most sportsmanlike manner in all school athletics. It is presented at the Athletic Ba nonet. The Tlam mi i d is awarded the team. Blue or Gold, which has the highest score for the year. The names of the winning team and its captain are adrif ( f h year to the plaque. The Athletic Cup is awarded at the Athletic Banquet to the girl who has made most improvement during the year in athletics and at the same time displayed a cooperative spirit. The High Point Winner Cup is presented at the Athletic Banquet to the girl who has earned most points through her social, academic, cultural, and physi- cal n( ti itie of hr year. Ihere are three cups open to Middle and Lower School pupils. The cup known as the Principal ' s Cup was given by Miss Sallie E. Wilson as a citizen- ship award in the Fifth and Sixth Classes. The cup awarded a member of the Seventh or Eighth Classes for outstanding qualities of school citizenship was originally given to the high point winner in athletics. It was the gift of Rocena Sutton (Mrs. C. M. Lane) in 1029. The cup awarded the girl in these classes who maintains the highest scholastic average during the year was given in 1929 by two members of the faculty. Miss Lucy Smith and Miss Lucile Ennis.