Worcester High School of Commerce - Caduceus Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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COMMEIC: Earle Stearns and Richard Schiller were chosen to represent Commerce High at the Colby Contest in Maine. All the school was very proud of the work both the boys did. For the first time, one of the prizes went to a Commerce boy, Earle Stearns was awarded third prize for his recitation of My Account with the Unknown Soldier , by Harry Emerson Fosdick. The Girls ' Debating Society was victorious over the Boys ' Assembly Debating Society in the annual debate. The only members of the ' 36A class that were on the teams were Regina Dzikiewicz, on the girls ' team and Earle Stearns on the boys ' . Adele Jozefowski, the only three-letter girl athlete at Commerce, was chosen manager of the Girls ' ' Varsity Hockey Team and Christine Imbimbo was elected captain of the team. The Blackfriars received the support and used the talent of many members of our class. Among those treading the boards this year are Arlene Rocheford, Douglas Porrell, Olga Sear, Regina Dzikiewcz, Gustav Erickson and Arthur Hedlund, all of whom distmguished themselves in their work in the various plays in which they participated. The boys were outstanding in their athletics this year. During the earlier part of the season they gained the Basketball Inter-High Title and later in the year held second place in the Inter-High Football series. William Koch, captain of the Cross Country Team and George Badger represented Commerce in the annual Thanksgiving day race at Newark, New Jersey. And thus the first chapter of our adolescent life draws to an end. But, before we can finish it definitely and conclusively, we must mention the Prom that is to come in January and is to be held in the Auditorium — the first school Prom ever to be held there, a Prom that will create an appropriate ending for our four years at Commerce High. Then we will be able to turn the page that ends the first chapter of our youth and look forward to the many more that will soon be history to us, just as our first one now is. [25]

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The first social event that took place durint; our Junior year was the presentation of The Pirates of Penzance , a colorlul opera. The following girls were members of the chorus: Ainelia Lauzikas, Gertrude Handel, Mary McGrath and Rita Patient. The Blackfriars, as usual, received their much-deserved praise for the magnificent acting in The Admirable Cricliton. Richard Schiller played the part of an exceedingly wealthy Englishman, and certainly was worthy of the plaudits given him. Again election time rolled around. Arthur Hedlund was chosen president; Kathleen Bostock, vice-president; Shirley Eastman, secretary; and Gustav Erickson, treasurer. The various musical or ;anizations of the school presented Show Boat to us. It was enacted remarkably well, and I can say that the members of our class that were in it will, without doubt, go far in the field of comedy-acting, if they choose that field for their vocation. We were all, teachers and pupils alike, shocked to hear of the death of Miss Etta M. Richmond, who for fourteen years was a beloved member of the English dep.irtment of our school. Orlando Di Rienzo was already beginning to make a name for himself in football and Herbert Boo and Roy Hultgren were doing outstanding work on the Soccer Team. In April, Mr. Sherwin, the Assistant Principal, was appointed to the position of Principal of North High School. We all were sorry to see him go, but were consoled when we became acquainted with Mr. Tobin, who took Mr. Sherwin ' s place, and dis- covered that he was only too willing to be a friend to all of us. Another summer passed, a summer that seemed altogether too short. A special election took place to fill the vacancy caused by Kathleen Bostock ' s moving out of Worcester. Alice Peterson, one of the most popular irls of our class, was elected to take her place. The Senior year was very busy tor all of us. Clubs expanded, added more members to their rolls, and became more and more useful, both to the faculty and students, due mainly to the efforts of their leaders. Isabelle Mitchell headed the Britomart; Regina Dzikiewicz, the Girls ' Debating Society; Arthur Hedlund, the Blackfriars, Principal ' s Cabinet and the Math Club; Earle Stearns, the Euterpeans ; and Stephen Dymek v,as the organizer of the Model Airplane Club. A large number of the boys and girls of our class attended the Britomart-Assembly Prom at the Bancroft and helped make it the success that it was. Will we ever forget the trip to Provincetown. ' It was an experience nev,- to the school and new to the students. The Horace Mann list disclosed that among our pre-eminent students were: Hazel narrower, Mary Seilus, Bertha Maki, Stanley Ribb, Norman Rivers, Adele Wilensky and Genevieve Kulesza. The cla,ss elections showed the popularity of Arthur Hedlund as it was he who was chosen for the presidenc7 again. Alice Peterson was reelected vice-president; Christine Imbimbo, secretary; and Earle Stearns, treasurer. The opera, Gondoliers , directed by Mr. Wilson, proved to he a huge success. [24]

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lAWCEP Class Oration, 1956- A Earle a. Stharns THIS IS AMERICA — THIS IS OUR COUNTRY Today, as we appear in this auditorium, our parents see us as the youth of the High School of Commerce — their own sons and daughters — reliable, self-confident, blessed with vigor and knowledge, endowed with a seemingly indomitable will, and possessed of sufficient training to raise our ambitions to a level whereby they may become an initiative and creative force. It is an inspiring sight, indeed, and one that should rei,2;n supreme in their minds. But somewhere in the shadows of their intellect lies another picture, up to this point a negative, undeveloped, a mere seed, remaining in this state for sometime until the realization that their sons and daughters have grown up causes it to develop and blossom forth — showing us as we shall appear tomorrow — the youth of the world — our reliability becommg unsteady under the thrusts of repeated difficulties, our confidence waning because of our failures, our vigor and knowledge proving inadequate to atone for our defeats, our indomitable will becoming pliable after many disappointments, and our ambitions dashed against the rocks of despair when we meet life ' s hardships face to face — a very unpleasant picture indeed. It is only natural that our parents ' love for us and the numerous sacrifices they have made on our behalf cause them to see these two pictures. Today, due to the depressing times and cloudy outlook for the future, the latter picture is more prominent in their minds. Recollections of what they have been through and the thoughts that the same conditions face us can hardly free their minds of disturbing elements. I could do nothing more worthwhile at this moment than to comfort the minds of our parents by reminding them of the pictures that exist today in my mind — pictures as true as history itself — as human as life itself — as dramatic as death itself — pictures which will show that the dreams, hopes, and plans for their children ' s lives should not crumble or be torn asunder upon the mere premonition of national disaster, nor should they be regarded as mere inanities due to the existence of a synthetic photograph fabricated in the min .l through tar-tctched suppositions of conditions in the future. [26]