St Stephens Academy - Academician Yearbook (Port Huron, MI)

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The Portal The freshman declamation contest was the outcome of the elimination held in December when the ten winners were chosen. First place was awarded Agnes Heaney in the selection “Claudias and Cynthia Thomas Brophy, who gave “The Gladiator ' merited second place. Honorable mention was received by Everine Bezanah who gave Booker T. Washington’s well known number, “The New South.” The other contestants and their selections were as follows: Norma Carey, “One Niche the Highest ’ by Elihu Burrett. Francis Graziadei, Henry Waterson’s “New Americanism.” Jane Britz, “The Lark bv Charles Reade. “The Death of Rodio- quez by V r i rgil Benanati. Dorothy Becherer, Dr. Frank Crane’s essay, “Pay As You Enter.” Mary Ryan, “The Soldier’s Last Salute,” by Porter. Floyd Bernard, “A Eulogy of Lincoln.” It has become an established custom at St. Stephen’s to hold each year its annual Freshman and Sophomore declamation contest, but owing to the increased student body it was necessary to hold in November a preliminary elimination to determine who represent the grade. DEBATING For the past two years, St. Stephen has not been a member of the Michigan State Debating League. It has rather been the policy of the school to give the opportunity for extensive work rather than intensive work to the greater majority of the High School students. As the classes grew in size, the policy was adopted of holding inter class open forum debating on any subject of literary or historic signifi- cance. This plan has been followed and only once this year did the school engage in an outside debate. On February fourteenth, St. Stephen team met the Port Huron High to debate the question, “Resolved, That Responsibility, Liability Automobile Insurance is Desirable.” Helma Smith ' 32, Donald Mulligan 31, and Joseph Wright 81, repre- sented St. Stephen. By previous arrangement no decision was given. The debate was extremely interesting and gave valuable research. ROMANCE 111th timid hearing , f altering step Alert , get poised for flight As dawn ill utn es the eastern sky, “Miss Day” keeps in at “Sight.” Then growing holder , for he sleeps So deeply; low she bends And kisses him. Then swiftly, her Imperial throne ascends. The gods ne’er dream pt as, gazing They behold her shining light This proud and haughty maiden stooped And kissed the despot. Night. Helma Smith, ’32, Prize winner at St. Clair Literary Contest, 1930. Page Twenty-nine

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The Portal Left to Right — (Top Row) — Ted Jones, Thomas LaVigne, James Mason, Thomas Brophv and Albert Oesterle. Second Row — Floyd Bernard, Virgil Benanette, Mary Ryan, Agnes Heaney, Jane Britz and Dorothy Beeeherer. Third Row — Marie Bonny, Rose Marie Schwab, Mary Roche, Shirley Sharrow, Jean Chase, Norma Carey and Everine Bezenah. Front Row Jean Mara, Mary Graziadei, chairman; Clifford DeMars and Francis Graziadei. DECLAMATION CONTESTS At eight o’clock January 13, the silver tongued speakers ascend ed the platform and delivered their selections which proved and showed hours of preparation by every pupil. All could not share the honor of winning but some few of the contestants would be chosen victors and so after deliberating twenty long minutes the judges announced that Jean Chase and Mary Roche had tied for first place and Albert Oesterle had captured the second honor. The evening was delighted by both musical and vocal solos ably assisted by St. Stephen’s High School orchestra which rendered many loved tunes between the speakers. The names of the contestants and their selections are as follows: Marie Bonney, “Laurels for a Mother ' James Mason, “The Man Who Wears a Button.” Shirley Sharrow, “Back Waters.” Jean Chase, “The Honor of the Woods Edward Jones, “Vive La Marine.” Rosimarie Schwab, “The Ciitzen.” Thomas LaVigne, “Woodrow Wilson.” Mary Roche, “The Man in the Shadow.” Albert Oesterle, “Uncle Sam.” Jean Mara, “The Consul.” Page Twenty-eight

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The Portal I,eft to Right -(Top Row) — Donald Mulligan, Fr ed Kaupp, Julian McMonagle Donald Gardner, Lauren Relkin. Third Row — Francis Wellman, Navarre Revnew, Bernard Ward, Joseph Wright, George Minnie, Thomas Burns, Benjamin Filer. Second Row — John O Hara, Robert Kelly, Shirley Rondeau, Francis Graziadei, John Gerber, Daniel Karl, Thomas LaVigne, William Adamson. First Row — John Varty, Jack Courtney, Howard Courtney, Clifford DeMars, Thomas Brophy, Floyd Bernard, John Steinborn, Vergil Benanati, Joseph Wellman, Wilson Glaab. GLEE CLUBS No school activity is considered complete without the presence of the Glee Club. It is said a fighting nation can sing its way to victory. Thus the boys of St. Stephen’s should be great fighters. I he aim of the club is to place within reach of all students, both bovs and girls, experience in ensemble work which will add to their appreciation of vocal work and encourage them to develop any special talents manifested. The students at St. Stephen have always maintained a high standard in excell- ence in singing but until the formation of the Glee Club, the full talents of the stunest were not realized. Since then many programs in school activities have been made more complete from a social standpoint by the aid of the club. The appearance of the Glee Club at the county contest which w’as held in Algonac, in May, 1930, won commendation and praise. The boys of the Glee Club sing at eight o’clock Mass once a month, on the Sunday when the girls of the school receive Holy Communion as a body, with the Children of Mary Society. The girls of the club sing the other Sundays at the eight o’clock Mass. The Glee ( lub has specialized in numbers suitable for all kinds of entertainment. The program includes: Page Thirty