Mount Saint Marys College - Eagle Yearbook (Orchard Lake, MI)

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Mn NTS 'ru BEM BER uLESI'li' l the keyword these days. Day after day, as I watched my boys Q walk about the campus, l could see that there was a change coming over them. Because of the efforts of our distinguished faculty members, they were coming to realize more and more the necessity of education and earnest study as a preparation for a bright and success- ful future. They were unaware of my presence, con- tinually looking down upon the campus quadrangle. At Halloween ,and Christmas, the Juniors sponsored parties for their upper-classmen. The festivities of the holiday season went as quickly as they had come and the gym- nasium began to vibrate again with the sound of healthy boys and their beloved sport. Of course, the season was a victorious one. The winter days were filled with work and play, always enjoyed in the companionship of jovial and happy companions. ln March, the long-awaited day of the class ring presentation ceremony came and will long be remembered by members of the class and their families. With the advent of Spring, the baseball and track equipment were brought out of storage. This year, the Juniors began to take the forefront in both sports. That explains, in large measure, the profitable season in track and the Suburban Catholic Championship won in base- ball. The yearly track and field day was eagerly an- STICK ticipated by one and all. Then came final examinations, a Caudeamus Party for the Seniors, Commencement Exercises and summer recess once again. The early days of September saw the arrival of the members of the class of '56 for another scholastic year . . . their most important too. Now the Seniors numbered twenty-seven fellows with Father John Rakoczy again serving the class as their moderator. Almost immedi- ately, the student body was plunged into the spirit of the football season. And for a good reason . . . the Eaglets won the Suburban Parochial League Champion- ship in football, something unheard-of in the history of St. Maryis. From my place atop the class building, l looked with pride upon my hoysf' the class of '56 who were the first ones to lead the Red and White through an undefeated season on the gridiron. The many and varied duties of the Seniors, as soliciting advertisements for the Orchard Lake yearbook, The Eagle, taking class pictures, and selecting invitations occupied much of the time. One of the numerous achievements for which the Class of '56 will always be remembered was its intro- duction, on the gracious suggestion and paternal guid- ance of the Reverend Principal, of the Student Offi- cer's Council and the Student Assembly program. This High School Graduates of 1956 y .It ' x mm NMAQ, 1 . tl, .ri1wiV,,.: U X ,Y-Q: -:gl v Hg,f'B':tl. - . - . fa f qlf'i?'5t 1e?fl'1?5iEf? ,,aEf5Q ailE'gi l 22351 .' -L :lflffllf l-1?'5?f'i5?aZ'?5E -ff-aff f I I ' r a ' is Ella. llila ,U ft? C g u t nl-

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l. - Duns sented on the football squad as well as on the Honor Roll. Another Mission Rally, a Halloween Party and the long awaited Student Government Day swiftly came and went, but l dare say will long be remembered by those who took part in them. I would like it to be known that although never leaving my elevated position of responsibility atop the class building, I observed many things about this class . . . few were the experiences and the aspects of the class that escaped my attention. The students had captured, unconsciously perhaps, a spirit of understanding and appreciation for their rich Polish cultural heritage and their priceless Catholic Faith. They lived, at Orchard Lake, a life in which academic en- deavors, opportunities for good companionship, recrea- tional activities and participation in the liturgical life of thc Church were combined and integrated into a har- monious whole. Winter again found basketball the king of sports at St. Mary's and this season his reign was an excep- tionally glorious one. The Reserve Team defeated one opponent after another and came up with the City Cham- pionship, an unprecedented feat in the annals of St. Mary's. During these long winter months, those who were not on the various hardwood teams, kept them- selves occupied with other extracurricular activities in intramurals, the Clee Club, the Band and many profita- ble hours over a good book. Checkers, Chess, Ping-Pong and Pool tournaments always found enthusiastic partici- pants. Talcnt in another field was discovered when the Sophomorcs had a winner in both the English and Polish Oratorical Contests. It was during their Sophomore year that the Class of '56 established the first student publi- cation of their residence building, the Ark Log. F. I I 6,1 ...V w -Ji-5'-l qi 6- LLWALLYH' Tan The day of the Ring Ceremony was one of the most memorable during the stay of the High Grads of 1956 at Orchard Lake. 4sGUTsv1 Toward the Spring, studies were necessarily more diff ficult, but it was soon discovered that the more effort one put in something, the more one received in return, The Spring Concert and Family Night were huge sue- cesscs. The track and baseball seasons, having been completed, and final examinations held, the Sophomores left St. Mary's once again to enjoy a well deserved summer vacation. Three months later my boys were back at -St. Maryis' again, this time as Juniors with a new class master, Father John Rakoczy. They now took up residence the College building, popularly known as 'iThe Barracks with Father Joseph Kubik as disciplinariari. Severaf members of the class held 'gkey positions oriithe Ifootf. ball squad and it was they who were largely lresponsiblei for the profitable season which ensued. St. Miiry's-'took second place in the Suburban Parochial Leagjle. those not engaged on the varsity, there were ititlfiilillgiiillj' 'g football, tennis, swimming and volleyball. H,- -- ' wi.-.-n Nl ix .- , ,,-E44 '- .. , nl-an , . . , i,,. 1 -rv w -n . . .1 i . Mil wr K..- -,..1 ,M l EJ -1 X 1 ,J Proj If , M., . .r e 1 i , mi: - A--I . .ic M1 ,, .-, 'Lzu .1 ' -' i. ,- - ,,-, 1 rL-f,.il-1, ij w i' 'fu'-f .1 1-fn., - I . .dr lf lu . In cf J. 1- WT Hx' ll , i. .,'r. , lm L, I , 1 -iraq .',, It 'Ili :gym -1-: 1,I -lp . M I ,il tl-al ' 1 i ly . , ,. ,tu 11 I r H W HT' '-v 'ttyl ,J , ,. I 1 iiKLI7NX,' 1' . ...LIC .N I ,. . .r C. .f. n.. n - l-. l, . . - -'. V , . N I.: Q . . -t ' ' --tif - 1, ' juif if-. - 1, .-.,'E:'11'.- gr-gl, if Ulf Q L gl NL' Fld - flqilf L3 lb , 'gr

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l.laNNY X HBENNYN was just another addition to the numerous accomplish- ments of the Graduating Class of '56, The Senior year for my boys was an important one in more than one respect. They were learning, little by little, what was expected of them in the years ahead. They were to be leaders of their people, leaders of the American Polonia. Truly they would be Polish Americans, fully conscious of their priceless cultural heritage and prepared to pass that rich treasure on to future generations . . . they were to he militant Catholics, who, well versed in their Holy Religion, would bring Catholic influences into a secularized world . . . lastly they were to be good Ameri- cans, who, loving their native land and aware of her problems, would ever be ready to serve and to sacrifice for Cod and Country. The basketball season showed forth the true colors of many of the Seniors who now led the Red and White unto victory in their competition with other schools. In the spring, the class trip, a five day affair, was spent in Washington and New York . . . most truthfully it may be said to embody the best of all the fond memories of High School days. In baseball and track, as in the previous sports, the Seniors took their rightful places of leadership among the rest of the students. This last sports season, will always be remembered by the partici- pants not only because it was the last ofltheir High School days, but because of the many frierids and val- uable experiences gained while taking part in it. Then came the final examinations, the Gaudeamus party, and the approach of Commencement in unmerciful succes- sion. I noted that in these days jubilant happiness was mingled with feelings of regretful sorrow. The Com- mencement day was here at last. My boys had waited four years for this day . . . years which later they would recall as the happiest of their lives . . . years during which they had grown from boys into men. As they solemnly marched down the campus walk toward the auditorium, I could tell that in the heart of each one, sentiments of happiness were mixed with sor- row . . . happiness at having arrived at their cherished goal at last . . . sorrow at leaving the friends they had come to know so well and the Alma Mater who had been so good to them, and whom they had come to love and appreciate so dearly. From my post, venerable with age, I watched the solemn procession advance toward, the 'igymf' and though they were unaware of it, a few tears trickled down my time-worn face as I beat away their final minutes at Orchard Lake. '4My boys were men now, but somehow I knew, to me at least, they would always remain . . . amy boysf' the Class of '56. it E CSMPZIITZY, NELL1E LGOPH