George E Westinghouse High School - Sketch Book Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

Page 26 text:

I OPEN SESAME l 302 I am Education. I bear the torch that enlightens life, that strengthens hand and mind. I carry aloft, on the wings of certainty, the ambitions of mankind. Through me, the door of opportunity is opened, and within my portals, man finds the solution to all of his many problems. For many years, I have held aloft, in my open palm, the few who were financially able to enter the higher institutions of learning, and I have longed for the day when- my ranks could be strengthened by the addition of the many high school graduates who fshall be able to overcome this difficulty through the generosity and foresight of their more fortunate fellowmen. At last, man has answered my plea, and has established a medium through which many students have been able to enter my higher institu- tions. That medium is the scholarship. In looking over my vast records, I have found the following to' be repre- sentative of the scholarships that are available to the students of Westing- house. There are a number of four-year scholarships to Pitt, which are awarded to high honor graduates of city high schools. The other large in- stitution of our city-Carnegie Tech-offers, annually, fifty scholarships to honor graduates of city high schools. The Civic Club of Allegheny County, through their semi-annual tests, award scholarships to more than fifteen graduates. The Pittsburgh School of Accountancy offers several two- semester scholarships, to the winners of their annual tests. Allegheny College offers two scholarships, each year, to two graduates chosen from any high school in the state. Swarthmore College invites one student from Westinghouse to participate in their annual scholarship examination, The Richard Humphreys Foundation of Philadelphia offers ten scholarships to the Cheyney Training School of Philadelphia. They are open to negro students who fulfill certain requirements. There is the 34000 Firestone Scholarship, which is awarded to the writer of the best essay on good roads. The State, having felt the effect of my drastic appeal, is now offer- ing more than fifty 95400 scholarships to high school seniors throughout the state who successfully pass the annual examination held in their senatorial district. In addition, each state senator has at his disposal three scholar- ships to the colleges in Pennsylvania which receive state appropriations. Many people of means have, of late, started the practice of endowing scholarships to colleges and universities in memory of some member of their family, or someone else whose memory they wish to have perpetuated. There are almost 50 such scholarships at Pitt, and about the same number at Tech. Included among these are scholarships founded by alumni and class organizations to make it possible for des-erving students to obtain an education. Aside from the scholarships awarded by the state, by educa- tional bodies, and by private families, the various industrial concerns throughout the state offer several scholarships to their employees and their families. ' Thus,'by citing these few instances, I have given a faint idea of the vastness of the opportunities which I have open for all, and my message to you is that which I have learned from the Bible, the greatest of all references, Study to be quiet, to do your own business, and to work with your own hands. A strict adherence to this simple message will bring mastery of your subjects, senior honors, and the coveted scholarship whereby you may enter, with me, into the palace of higher learning. 22

Page 25 text:

' Gitorinls Volume Ten .Iune 1925 Number Two THE SKE'l'CH BOOK S'l'Alf'l EDl'l'0li-IN-CHIEF' ,.Y..., ,,..,....4A...A.......,,Y,..Y,Y.,.,,,,,,,A,,,,A.,,,A,,,,,,,,,,,,.,,, L IHARLES E, WlSE, JR, BUSINESS' MANAGER ,,.AAA , ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,AA AA,,,,,,., ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,w,AAA,,,,,,,, , W AL'r1q1q BARCLAY Assistant Editor. ,..... Mary Louise Ahern Poetry .... Rachel Brown, Meredith Wassam ASSY BUS. Mgr.. ....... ,,.,, . Kenneth Foster School News ,..,,.,,..r,.,..,,,,r. William Wycoff A581 litls. Mgr... .........,,... Mildred lfriend Senior Activities .,,,,, L. Hussey, M. Gump Circulation Manager ,......,.... Robert Brant Athleticsultandolph Martin, Martha Crim ASS't Cir. Mgr ................... Hyman Mendal Alumni ........,.........,....,............ Dorothy Conn Asst CIIV- Mgr ..,e,............ Smiley Morrison Jokes ............i........,..,.....,..,..,... Frank Snyder ASSY CIF. Mill' .......... .........,..., l ien Schirm Cartoons ..,,...,.., ,,...,,,,.......,, W illiam Wilson Photographers ..., ., Nl . Mason, U. Allen Typists ,,,,.. Lillian Hussey, Bernice Moore FACI.'L'l'Y ADVISERS Alice Hayward Emily Evans George Leopold - HERE YOUTH AND OPPORTUNITY MEET This is indeed a fitting motto when we consider the name of our school, We feel that Mr. George Westinghouse for whom our school is named would have desi1'ed no greater honor than that such a school as this be named for him. We feel su1'e, also, that if he were to have chosen a motto for the school which bears his name he would have selected just such a one as that which we now have. Mr. Westinghouse was always interested in young people and he spent a great deal of time and effort to make provisions for the meeting of youth and opportunity. In his industrial plants he provided training schools so that the young men who entered his plant need not lack an opportunity to learn everything that might be taught them about the work in which they were engaged. We at Westinghouse should be conscious of the name that our school bears. It is not the name of one who lived long ago and who is only a dim figure in history. Instead, the evidence of Mr. Westinghouse's life and achievements are everywhere evident and particularly so in our own neighborhood. It is as if the spirit of Mr. Westinghouse hovers over us continually, pointing out at every turn the results of what may'be accom- plished when youth and opportunity meet to advantage. Our obligation is a difficult one to live up to, inasmuch as we have before us as our ideal, the life of one who accomplished so much. How- ever, we would not ask less. We shall try valiantly at this our time of dedication to so dedicate our lives that Mr. George Westinghouse would have been proud of the youth who are the p1'oducts of the school which bears his name, 21

Page 27 text:

THE LIFE OF GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE BOS 1846-Born in Central Bridge, Schoharie County, New York. 1856-Moved to Schenectady., N. Y. with his father who there established the Schenec- tady Agricultural Works. 1857-1860-Attended school and worked in father's factory. 1861-Invented a Rotary Engine. 1863-1865-In army and navy during the Civil warg at own request was honorably discharged from position of Assistant Engineer, United States Navy. - 1865-1866-Resumed studies, entering Union College at Schenectady, N. Y. 1866-First railway invention-device made of cast steel for replacing derailed cars, also reversible steel railroad frog. 1867-Conceived the idea of the air brake. Married Margaret Erskine Walker. Re- moved to Pittsburgh. 1868-First successful test of the air brake was made. 1869-Organized, at 23 years of age, the Westinghouse Air Brake Company, of which he became president and so remained until removed by death. 1870-Made his first trip to Europe to introduce the air brake. Designed and built a jet steam turbine. . 1871-Inaugurated Saturday half holiday at Air Brake Company, an innovation since almost universally adopted. 1872-1874-Made extensive air brake tests in England and Belgium. 1876-Designed and built a complete automatic central telephone exchange system. 1879-Invented a Pneumatic system of interlocking signals operated by compressed air. 1880-The Westinghouse Machine Company organized to build high speed engines designed by H. H. Westinghouse. 1881-The Union Switch and Signal Company organized to manufacture the Pneu- matic Interlocking Switch and Signal apparatus. , 1884-Invented a complete system for transmitting natural gas through pipes, and a meter. 1885-Realized the possibilities of alternating current and purchased the transformer patents of Gaulard and Gibbs in England. 1886-Organized the Westinghouse Electric Company for the manufacture of electric lighting apparatus. 1887-Engaged Nikola Tesla who developed the alternating current induction motor. The famous Burlington air brake trials resulted in successful development of instantaneous application of the air brake to all cars of a long train. 1889-Air Brake Company works removed to Wilmerding. Beginning of controversy 1891- over alternating current. Formed the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. 1892-Secured through personal efforts the contract from the World's Fair at Chicago 1894- for the electrical equipment. Secured contract for the large generators at Niagara Falls. Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company moved to East Pittsburgh. 1897-Secured patents from Charles A. Parsons of England for steam turbine. 1898-First Westinghouse steam turbines were installed in power plant of Westing- house 'Air'Brake Company, Wilmerding. 1902-British Company built plant at Manchester, England. 1908-Successfully reorganized Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. 1910-Began development of Westinghouse Air Spring for automobiles. 1913-Reorganized financial affairs of Westinghouse Machine Company. 1914-Reduction gear ordered by U. S. Navy Department for installation on two new battleships and a repair ship in preference to any other similar device offered. 1919-March 12, died in New York City. 23