Ionia High School - Ionian Yearbook (Ionia, MI)

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IONIAN 1931 Valedictory FRIENDS: This morning, we, the class of 1931, have met here to bid our school-days fare- well. We have reached the goal toward which we have been steadily and earnestly working through the past four years. Now that we have attained this height we realize, with a tinge of sadness, that, as a class, we are assembled together for the last time. As we meet here our thoughts are turned to what these four years have really meant to us. It is, indeed, only human that our minds should first turn to the friends we have found here. With them comes the thought of the friendships we have enjoyed and the many pleasant hours of companionship we have had. But although friends and friendships are a necessary part of human life, we need something more tang- ible in this busy world of competition. How has our school provided for this? Shall we be mere toilers and live ever by drudgery or shall we be master workmen and give to the world the best we have that the best may come back to us? Let us reso- lutely set forth, in this new phase of our life, with an earnest endeavor to be master workmen. Future years will show how well our foundations have been laid. Let us now consider the two influences of our school life, which were most important in fitting us to be master workmen — our school and our teachers. Founded on the principles of efficiency, honesty, loyalty, and good sportsman- ship, our school associations have helped us to form the character of the master workman. School alone could not do all this. Only by the kindness, patience, and en- couragement of our teachers, who by their untiring efforts have inspired us to do our best, would we have accomplished our ideals. Nor can we forget the influence back of this — our parents. For it has been through their efforts and perhaps sacri- fices that these four pleasant years have been given us. As we go out from school life and into our new life away from the influences of school, teachers, and parents, that have guided us through these four years, let us ever keep before us the new goal for which we have been fitting ourselves. And in our new work let us build our foundation upon the principles of service, effi- ciency, loyalty and honesty, and thus advance more and more surely toward our ideal, a master workman. Alary Piper. [20}

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President's Address mi IONIAN FRIENDS: Tomorrow, this large group of young people before you will receive their diplomas and enter the portals of the Ionia High School Alumni Association. In thinking of this fact, I cannot let it pass from my mind without reminiscing a bit of the past, and also wondering what lies before us in the future. We have spent four years on this campus and it has naturally become a part of us and has grown to mean a great deal to us. Here on these grounds we have had many en- joyable times and also have had our little problems which at the time seemed very monumental, but at a moment like this seem very small indeed. I believe that our class in its four years as a part of the Ionia school has made as good a record as any class graduated before it. Tomorrow, we shall take separate paths and each one will go his or her own way in life. Some will go to college, others in our group will enter other lines of work. We are all standing on the threshold of life, and what we do in the next eight years will determine our contributions to society. If there be any failures in this march of life, there will be those who will say that they were decreed by Fate or Destiny. I cannot agree, for it is my firm belief that we can make our lives whatever we want them to be. Of course, the road may be rough at times and it may seem very dark ahead, nevertheless, if we are sincere and persevering in our efforts, we can succeed. These two qualities, sincerity and per- severence, spell success in every walk of life. There are thousands to tell you it cannot he done, There are thousands to prophecy failure, There are thousands to point out to you one by one, The dangers that wait to assail you. But fust buckle in with a bit of a grin. Just take off your coat and go to it, fust start into sing as you tackle the thing That 'cannot be done,’ and you'll do it.” If we remember these words, and when failure appears ahead, just repeat, fust start into sing as you tackle the thing That 'cannot be done,' and you’ll do it.” fewer disappointments in life will occur. Already certain members of our class under the handicap of a poor high school building, which we well know, have made splendid records. Our Valedictorian, Mary Piper, has a one hundred per cent record which has never before been equaled in the history of the school. Our Salutatorian, Pauline Schied, has a record as high as the average Valedictorian. Arthur Riven’s splendid work as manager of the Annual has made its success possible. In athletics, Albert Kowatch, the last of the Kowatch brothers, has followed in his brothers footsteps by showing outstanding athletic ability. I also wish to mention Helen Kirshman, whose outstanding work in typewriting has brought honors to the school. In 1930, she won the district con- test held at Kalamazoo. To these comrades, I extend my heartiest congratulations. I could mention others, but time will not permit. In closing, I wish to thank the members of the faculty for their assistance in bringing our high school career to a happy ending. I personally wish to thank the members of the class for your splendid cooper- ation in carrving on the numerous activities which has taken place in the past year, and extend my sincerest wishes for success in whatever walk of life you choose to enter. Philip Faude [ 19]

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PR I ENDS: Salutatory The privilege of extending the greetings of my classmates, our faculty, and the administration to you has been accorded to me. We wish you to understand that you are welcome to attend and participate in all scholastic functions, but we want you to feel especially welcome today. This day is numbered among the few that remain to be spent with all our classmates and our school. From thence onward, we as individuals, will be determining the final success or failure of our lives. To make a truly worthwhile beginning in this business of life, we must consider ad- visable initial steps. One cannot travel very far on life’s road without entering upon partnerships of business, politics, or friendships. In business or political partner- ships. our choice does not always determine our partners, but the choice of friends rests with us alone. As a result, our characters are inevitably revealed by the friends we make. In the audience today there are a few strangers perhaps, casual acquaintances, friends, and parents who are intensely hopeful and expectant of our success. As friends, we will try not to disappoint you and to be worthy of your friendship. When we consider the responsibilities we carry in fulfilling our duties to you as well as to ourselves, we are allowing ourselves to be heavily taxed. Perhaps we may try to shirk our duties to you, and in doing so, subject you to disappointment and re- gret. But in a partnership of friendship, each member voluntarily assumes certain obligations which must be duly recognized when one friend doubts the stability and fidelity of another. After all, a friend is only human, and frailties are common to everyone, and although the disappointment in a friend is one of life’s greatest tragedies, it is only a shallow partnership that can be dissolved by such a cause. This occasion is of importance to us because it means that we welcome you to be our friends, in our future careers as you have been in our scholastic careers; it means that we need friends to realize ideals, hopes, and the most distant aspirations. The acceptance of this friendship will not be without cost to you, for the making of a friend is the result of a great day’s work. Our most anxious desire is that the pleasure and joy derived from such contact will overbalance the cost. We believe that your presence here this morning is the expression of your in- terest and good will, and for this expression we are grateful to you and extend to you a most sincere welcome. Pauline Scheid