Sturgis High School - Sturgensian Yearbook (Sturgis, MI)

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4 SALUTATORY 4 Parents, teachers, and friends: During the last few months every in- dividual in the world has had placed before his eyes a vision of unrest. The daily pa- pers, movies, radio commentators, and books are full of war talk. Important domestic problems are crowded off the front page to make room for Hitler 's latest advancements. It took a great deal to make us realize it, but through the strife and suffering of countless European nations Americans have at last recognized their own blessings. Es- pecially for those of us who are being grad- uated from a free public school this year, there has developed a gratitude to our coun- try. For only in the United States and in countries so devised and so conceived is free education afforded all individuals. IVe have enjoyed twelve years of learn- ing which have been ours for the asking. We have traveled a protected path but not a patterned one. For some it has been hard to get through, for others it has been an easy, pleasant sojourn. For all of us it has been worthwhile. Now we approach a new day. The shield which protected us in our childhood has been withdrawn for we are leaving our school and friends. The time has come to say goodbye to crutches and to try our own strength. To most of us graduation is a happy thought. We associate fperhaps falselyj leaving school with leisure. Those who have gone before us are quick to remind us that high school days represent the happiest time in one's life. VVe agree in part. School has been enjoyable. But being average people with all the characteristics of human 11ature we are looking forward to something better. In our imagination each one of us has built a goal. Toward these we will give all we have, and in a country such as ours that is not too much to hope for. No one can make us believe that we have lived the best part of our lives. To quote Alexander Pope: t'Hope springs eternal in the human breast, Man never is but always to be blest. -LAURA SPENCER ...Q-mum.-Q.. 4 VALED IVe have come to the end of our first twelve years of education. For many of us it will be the end of our formal education, to learn through to leave the pro- school and teach- but all of us will continue experience. We are going tection and guidance of our ers and start to make our own livings. We might compare our lives to a great sym- phony. FIRST MOVEMENT In the first movement of a symphony the main theme is introduced, each note is perfect and incapable of change. This move- ment is written in a strict pattern. It was much the same with our first contact with school. I11 the grades we were taught the fundamentals: Reading, Writing, and Arith- metic. There were no differences made be- I CTORY 4 tween the individuals of the class. Each was given the same basic training material to build for the future. The foundation for our whole life was being laid. SECOND MOVEMENT In the second movement of the sym- phony we have the same theme but with variations. As we began Junior and Senior high school, we were introduced to varia- tions of the Three R's . During this period we were given the chance to decide what we wanted to do as our life work. We were given a taste of Science, Music, Art, Engineering, and other subjects, so that we could try the different occupations. By now most of us have decided with which variation we are best in tune.

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First Row: A. Wheat, L. Spencer, B. Baker, H. Wells, M. Bell. Second Row: Eshelman, L. Graves, Nl. Carls, B. Reed, L. Mathews. HU OR ROLL Many picture the so-called UA 7' student as a tall, scrayvny person With horn-rimmed glasses and a pile of books. On the contrary the honor roll, this year as usual, is repre- sentative ofthe typical American high school youth. He is no book-Worm. True, he stud- ies. Yet he has taken a leading part in all extra curricular activities. It is he who has been on hand to aid his class in money-malc- ing projcets. lale has been outstanding in band, orchestra, and vocal demonstrations. A few Would, according to the old way of thinking, be classed as paradox. They have been athletic and scholarly as well. Some have enthusiastically represented the school in forensic activities. Debaters, declainiers, orators have joined the ranks of the high- ten. Plays also have required their services, a number of the honor roll appeared in both junior and senior plays in addition to those presented by the speech class. Aside from these, they have been active members of school organizations. The Hi-Y, G.A.A., Girl Reserves, Commercial Club, F.l+'.A., Science Club-all have members on the hon- or roll. The method of selection is not hit-or- iniss. An accurate mathematical system has been set up and carefully adherred to. Points are given for each grade for subjects which meet five days a Week or those subiects for which the student is given full credit. Any minor course which has only part time class- es is accredited accordingly. For each HA the student is awarded six points, for each UB , four, UC , twog and HD one. Those who make up this year's honor roll are as follows: Valedictorian, Allen Wheat, Salutatorian, Laura Spencer, His- torian, Betty Baker, Class Prophesy, ller- bert VVells, Muriel Bell, Janet lilshelman, Luther Graves 5 Class Will, Mary Jane Uarls, Betty Reed, liaMar Mathews.

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4 VALEDICTCRY Continued -Y- THIRD MOVEMENT In the third movement we change to a minor key and feel that Fate has begun to play with the theme. After we have grad- uated Fate will begin to shape our lives. Many of our plans and ideas will be changed or abandoned because of circumstances over which we have no control. The War will take some of the boys away from their Work. Our whole future is in doubt. None of us is sure of what the outcome of this present condition will be. Maybe we will actually be engaged in fighting. If this is true even the women and children will not be safe. As this weird but dramatic movement comes to an end, the forces of right begin again to come to the fore. 4 CLASSIT In the year 1937 one hundred and thirty- three Rhynies entered high school, having Mr. Squires, Miss Loomis, Mr. Bainter, Mr. Pomroy, and Miss Althoff as advisors. Evi- dently, this class has been a most stenuous one, for in the twelfth year, we find only two of the original five advisors still with us. Laura Spencer was President, James Smiley, Vice-President, Virginia Jacobs, Secretary, Eugene Yoder, Treasurer 5 James Freeland, S. U. Representative. A number of the members joined the band, chorus, and the debating squad. The class was also represented in yarious clubs and on the athletic teams. We chose as our Sophomore officers: Luther Graves, James Smiley, James Free- land, Fern Newman, Doris Coohon,v and George Allen. The main event of the year was the annual Sophomore Prom. It was a simple, non-decorative party, but never- theless, successful. Under the leadership of our officers Virginia Hudson, James Freeland, Virginia Jacobs, Fern Newman, Maurice Sumney and Doris Coohon, we strove for a more lavish J -Hop than ever before. The play '4Bashful Bobby was our first opportunity to make money. Everyone participated, in the sell- FINAL MOVEMENT In the last movement triumph is por- trayed. The forces of evil are replaced by the main theme, now much stronger and full- er and in a major key. Like the music in the last movement, we are all optimistic and confident that the clouds and shadows of dischord will be pushed back and that tl1e democratic way of life will come to the front. However we must all use to the best ad- vantage the lessons we have been taught in school and work to improve ourselves in the coming years. How much the conditions of the world improve in the next few years will be up to us. That is a great challenge. CAN WE ACCEPT IT? -ALLEN VVHEAT ISTCRY 4 ing of tickets with favorable results. We sold refreshments at the games and in addi- tion, sponsored informal dances. With the capable help of our sponsors, we all cooper- ated to make a delightful party. For the first time, the gym was adorned with a fluf- fy, white ceiling flooded with blue lights. Multi-colored stars shone through the gos- samer sky. As seniors, we paved the way for our senior trip by selling holly, promoting dances, and staging our senior play VVhat A Life. This year we were guided by our advisors: Miss Sundstrom, Mr. Squires, Mr. DeHaven, Mr. Pomroy, and Mr. Linder, and by our officers: President Bette Reed, Vice-president James Freeland, Secretary Fern Newman, Treasurer Virginia Hudson, and Student Council Representatives Luth- er Graves and Doris Coohon. We extend our appreciation not only to our teachers and families, but also to the builders of this nation who have made free education in the United States the inalien- able heritage of every individual. In no other nation in the world do young people have such opportunities as those granted to us. -BETTY BAKER