Ionia High School - Ionian Yearbook (Ionia, MI)

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VALEDICTORY Friends: We, as Seniors, are about to emerge from our classrooms into a new world ... a world that is a challenge to all who enter its folds. We are more prepared for life’s tempestuous sea because we have taken advantage of the opportunity provided us, that of a high school education. As we are pausing awhile before we undertake the work ahead, we realize that we have crossed the bay, but the ocean lies before us.” It is pleasant to pause here, on the shore of that vast ocean of life, and consider the pleasant calmness of the wave-ripples through which we have so easily been sailing. Thus far, our teachers and parents have been at the helm, guiding us through our first span of life. They have inspired us to make our life worth while, and they have provided us with the necessary instruments to pilot our ship through the deeper channels against the stream of active life. As we embark upon our voyage, we must have a destination or goal toward which we can strive. Although the course may not be chartered, and we may not know exactly what field of life work we intend to choose, we can still attain the goal of achievement by making success and defeat a dividend of experience. As we head our ship into the oncoming tide, we know not what lies before us. Sometimes the light will be hidden by the clouds, and for a moment we may lose our way; then a faint glimmer will break through the darkness, and we press forward with renewed courage. The youth of today must always be on the alert for unknown waves which roll before them. As youth, we accept with gratitude our precious heritage from older generations, and we pledge ourselves to pass it on, untarnished and undiminished . . . but we will guard only what is precious. In the same way we propose to beware, lest our enthusiasm for the perfection of life doesn’t blind us to the realities and limitations of our ideals. We will champion the essential . . . not the accidental, fulfilling always the church’s function as society’s conscience. As modern youth, we intend to think for ourselves, not only in terms of idealism, but also of realism. And so friends, as we go out into life, we will have many adventures to encounter. In meeting these new experiences we have a firm foundation of training provided us by our teachers and parents, and in addition, we have our own responsibility and initiative, to make each event one of success. Life is far too short to make mistake after mistake; therefore, each grain of sand, small though it may be, when laid on a pyramid, should bring us nearer the stars. The stars are symbolic of hope, of achievement, of success. Every act, however insignificant, that lifts mankind nearer to its ideal, is a worthy addition. Says Channing Pollock: When I come to the end I want to be able to tell myself, 'With the days that I had, and the strength that 1 had, I have done what I could toward that progress. When the pyramid is finished 1 want it to be so much higher by my grain of sand Margaret Dodes. Page 21

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SALUTATORY It is my privilege to extend a most cordial welcome to you on behalf of the Senior Class. We wish to express the sincere appreciation of the class for the efforts of our parents, other tax payers, the administration, and the faculty who have made it possible for us to complete our high school education. The knowledge that we have had you trustworthy people to guide and assist us has helped us over many of the difficult places of our high school career, until at last we are going out into the maelstrom of life, more able to face the problems of life because of your help and trust in us. Not only by these words, spoken on this class day, but by our actions in the years to come, we wish to express our appreciation for the kindness and the guidance given us. We shall strive to be worthy of your pride in us, and to compensate in some measure for all that you have done in trying to cultivate systematic thinking, honorable and gracious conduct, dependability, and a proper civic attitude. Perhaps the question of repaying this debt is present at this moment in the minds of our class members. Society does not demand that children repay in money every dollar that has been spent in the home and the school in providing livelihood and training. Does this, then, leave us without obligation? On the contrary, in some ways the responsibility placed upon us is heavier than a financial one. It is our duty to prove that we are worthy of the faith which our parents and teachers have had in us. We shall try to show our worthiness of your confidence. Voltaire has said, By appreciation we make excellence in others our own property As we welcome you, we have your excellence in mind, and hope to make it ours. Page 20 Hazel Hoople.

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CLASS PROPHECY Friends: The nature of my part in today’s program, the class prophecy, demands that I take you with me twenty-five years into the future. Now that we are safely transported to the year 1962, let us look back over the period intervening between 1960 and 1962 when good fortune made it possible for me to make a breath-taking jaunt around the world in two years of thrill-packed experience and adventure. It was in 1960 that I first approached the shores of Sciencia, a little island in the tropical waters of the southern Pacific, and there time and circumstance began the chain of events that makes it possible for me to report so completely on the class of 1937. Sciencia, as the name implies, proved to be the home island of a number of very progressive scientists whose ideas were revolutionizing the world. I left my boat moored in the still waters of the Pacific, and walked from the sandy beach to a very imposing building facing the waterfront. Inscribed over the door were the words, ''Brain-wave-space Machines for World and Interplanetary Travel.” My curiosity was immediately aroused and my first thought was to enter the building. As soon as this thought flashed through my mind I was mysteriously transported inside. Here I discovered that the brain-wave-space machine had been put into operation by its inventors. Picking up my thought-waves, the device had suddenly carried me within the structure. It was here that I first came in contact with some of my old classmates of 1937. William Robertson, Melvin Mann, Rudolph Johnson and Robert Wilder were among the group of scientists who had created this miraculous machine. I was told that chief pilots Bayne Bernier and Donald Seiler would accompany me on a world tour in one of their famous inventions. I thought this a wonderful opportunity to see the world, and so after securing my log in which I planned to keep a record of my experiences on the journey, I was eager to be on my way. After entering the machine, I was instructed to merely think of a certain place in which I would like to be and the device would immediately respond by carrying me to my destination. I thought of the world’s largest and most noted hospital in Berlin, and before I knew what had happened I was standing before the huge structure. Upon entering the building, I discovered Fred French, who was employed as an interne, issuing orders to a number of nurses. Fred told me that a major operation was being performed and that through the hospital’s large television-radio which had been perfected by Berdyne Travis, Gaylord Lake and Bill Scheid, it would be possible for us to see and hear everything that was taking place in the operating room. While making our way to the large room which contained the famous television-radio machine, I was admiring the structure of the enormous building. Fred informed me of the fact that the plans for the hospital had been drawn by William Nelson and Gordon Panncy, who had made their fortunes in the field of architecture. Page 22