Tekonsha High School - Indian Yearbook (Tekonsha, MI)

Page 18 text:

CO-VALEDICTORY CHARLENE RARICK GWYN RANDALL Gwyn: Dick has just mentioned that this is the second time in history that Tekonsha High School has had Co-Valedictorians. Charlene and I are honored that we have been selected for this historical second. However, this honor did pose one problem. We did not know how we were go-ing to give a speech on Graduation night. We asked Mrs. Warwick about this, and she suggested that we simply talk back and forth. And so, tonight, that's just what we're going to do. Charlene, does it seem possible that this is the last time we will be together as a class group9 Of course, some of us will spend next week together on a trip to New York and Washington; but it won't be the same. Charlene: Remember all those magazines we had to sell, and I never thought we would ever get rid of all that candy! Come to think of it, I still don't have all the meringue from those pie sales cleaned out of our car. And those dud key chains that fell apart in a couple of days went over quite well. Then there were the plays we put on... Gwyn: Yes, in the Senior Play weren't you afraid that Conrad was going to drop you when he brought you up unconscious from the basement; Charlene: Yes, we were both shaking like leaves! I'll never forget the Junior Play either. The beatnik poet you brought home with you from college and his girl friend stole my jewels and my Ming Vase. It is fun to look back on the activities we have done so that we can go on our Senior Trip, but we must not forget the theme of our speech, Our Changing World of Work. The word Explosion applies to this world. There are explosions in imagination, technology, and national wealth. In high school we talked much about imagination. This is a vital ability for one who wants to participate in this changing world. Our imagination has been encouraged in our classes and school activities. I believe that we who are graduating tonight have plenty of imagination and that we will continue to develop it. I think that any of the teachers would agree that some of us sitting up here have pretty keen imaginations. Charlene: Many of us graduating from school tonight hope to go out and find a place of work in the world. Modern changes in the work world are creating many opportunities for high school graduates. Other graduates want to continue their school work. Those who go to college must realize that education is both a privilege and a responsibility. Gwyn: This is commencement, though, and it is a beginning rather than an ending. As we review our high school days, it is only natural that we look to the future. We have to begin to plan for our lives as adults. We hope that we can keep the eagerness that we feel for life today. We know our interest in discovering new things must eventually be replaced by a real goal in life. For many of us now is a time of choice. We must decide how our lives are to be spent. We have to begin making our own decisions—decisions which will have a vital part in shaping our adult character. Charlene: In the future there are many opportunities awaiting us. Here again the word Explosion might be used. There are many opportunities in the work world. Education and preparation are required; and, for many occupations, job training is necessary. On-the-job training without further 14

Page 17 text:

ACHIEVEMENTS Ron Amsler - F.F. A. 1,2 . 3,4. Elly Becker - Exchange Student; F. H. A. 4; J. A. Y. Club 4. Gwynne Dexter - F.H.A. 1,2,3 , 4 ; F.N.C. 2,3,4 ; ]. A. Y. Club 4; Annual Staff 3, Glee Club 1,2; Rand 1,2, 3, 4; Dance Band 4; Volunteen; Class Officer 3,4; Junior Play; Senior Play; Honor Student; Science Club 3. Penny Drudge - Junior Play; Cheerleader 3,4; Court 3. Bill Ewers - Football 1,2, 3,4; Basketball 1,2,3, 4; Baseball 1,2,3, 4; Varsity Club 2,3,4. Faye Griffith - Junior Play Leo Herman - F.F. A. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ; Star Green Hand; Star Chapter Farmer; State Farmer; Outstanding in Football; Football 1,2,3, 4; Football Captain 4; All Conference Honorable Mention -Football; Court 2. Nancy Hill - Science Club 3; J. A.Y. Club 4; Annual Staff 4; Band 1,2,3; Dance Band 4; Class Officer 4. Brenda Katz - Tom Tom Staff 3; Annual Staff 4; F.H.A. 4; Class Officer 1; Librarian 1; Court 1. Dick Leatherbury - Basketball 1,2,3; Baseball 1,2,3,4; Football 1,2,3,4; Track 4; Varsity Club 2,3,4 ; Junior play; Senior play; Class Officer 4; Honor Student. Marilyn Macky - Science Club 3; F.H.A. 1,2,3,4 ; F.F. A. Chapter Sweetheart 3; Betty Crocker Homemaker Award; Class Officer 3; Honor Student; Junior Play; Senior Play. Patty Millard - Science Club 3; F.H.A. 1,2 ,3 ,4 ; Y.O.T. Club Representative 2; Annual Staff 3,4 ; J. A.Y. Club 3 ; F.N.C. 1.2 .3 .4 ; Cheerleader 1,2,3,4; D. A.R. Good Citizen Award; Class Officer 2,3; Junior Play; Senior Play; Court 2; Homecoming Queen 4; Junior and Chapter F.H.A. Degrees; Salutatorian. Paulette Olds - F.H.A. 1; J. A.Y. Club 3; Cheerleader 1,2,3,4; Junior Play. Cindy Paradine - Class Officer 1; Science Club 3; Librarian 2; Junior Play; Senior Play. Sharron Patten - F.N.C. 1,2,3,4; Volunteen; Band 1,2,3,4; Dance Band 2,3,4; Science Club 3; Junior Play; Senior Play. Pete Ragusa - F.F. A. 2,3,4 ; Track 3; Football 1,2,3; All Conference Honorable Mention -Football 3; Varsity Club 1,2,3; Y.O.T. Club Representative 2,3; Homecoming Court 3; Junior Play; Senior Play. Gwvn Randall - Science Club 3; Annual Staff 3,4; J. A.Y. Club 3 ,4; F.N.C. 1,2,3,4 ; F.H.A. 1,2 ,3 .4 ; Librarian 2,3; Band 1,2,3,4; Service Medal 3; Junior, Chapter, and State F.H.A. Degrees; Class Officer 1,3; Junior Play; Senior Play; Co-Valedictorian. Charlene Rarick - Science Club 3; Annual Staff 4; F.H.A. 1,2,3 , 4 ; Class Officer 3,4; Junior Play; Senior play; Co-Valedictorian, Office Assistant. Don Selby - F.F. A. 2, 3, 4; Basketball 1,2,3,4; Baseball 1,2,3; Football 1,2,3,4; All Conference Honorable Mention - Football 3; Varsity Club 1,2,3, 4; All State Honorable Mention 3; Class Officer 2; Senior Play. Phil Shaffer - F.F. A. 2,3,4; Football 1,3,4; Basketball 1,2,3; Baseball 1,2; Most Valuable Player - Baseball 2; Varsity Club 2,3,4; Track 4; Class Officer 2. Ed Shumway - F.F. A. 1,2,3 ,4 ; State Chapter Farmer; Junior Play; Senior Play. Theo Smoke - Junior Play; Senior Play. Conrad Voshen - Class Officer 4; Junior Play; Senior Play; Basketball 1,2,3,4; Baseball 1,3; Track 3; Golf 4; Varsity Club 2,3,4; Honor Student. Ron Whitcomb - F.F. A. 1 , 2 , 3 ,4 ; Public Speaker 1,2; Chapter Farmer; Football 1,2,3, 4; Baseball 1; Varsity Club 2, 3 . 4; Junior Play. 13 •Officer

Page 19 text:

CO-VALEDICTORY (continued) education is all that is needed for many jobs, such as welding, assembling, repairing appliances, assisting photographers, working as postal or office clerks, and many, many more. In fact, I remember reading that experts studying automation and manpower estimate that about one-half of the work force of the future will be at jobs where people can go directly from high school to on-the-job training. Opportunity is not only knocking to offer us jobs, but it is also offering to train us for the jobs. Gwyn: We think much about the future, our careers, and what kind of jobs are available. Certainly the work of the world is changing rapidly. You who graduated ten or twenty years ago could look ahead with great promise to jobs that just are not there anymore. Yet today there are many new different opportunities. For example, there seems to be a great demand for people to manufacture, operate, and service all the machines of automation. Many jobs which require hard physical labor are gone. Many interesting new opportunities have been created. It takes a lot of people to teach everything which has to be taught from childhood on through to teaching someone how to do his work. Thomas Edison said, I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by patience, diligence, and work. It is doubtful that any of us will be Edisons or Einsteins; but those of us who faithfully work--whether it be at college, developing our minds to seek our chosen career, or at the machine in the factory, making something useful for everyday living, we need not be ashamed when we are asked, What did you do today? We should be able to proudly answer, I went to work. We have a little poem that we would like to recite for you called, Do it now! It goes like this; If you’ve got a job to do, DO IT NOW t If it's one you wish were through, DO IT NOW t If you're sure the job's your own, Do not hem and haw and groan—DO IT NOW! Don't put off a bit of work, DO IT NOW ! It doesn't pay to shirk, DO IT NOW! If you want to fill a place and be useful to the race. Just get up and take a brace—DO IT NOW! Don't linger by the way, DO IT NOW! You'll lose if you delay, DO IT NOW! If the other fellows wait, or postpone until it's late, You hit up a faster gait--DO IT NOW! Charlene: In high school we have learned that there is something else besides curiosity, discovery, wonder, and adventure--there is work to be done. We hope to make good use of the courage, imagination, and energy you have helped us to develop. We hope to be able to live up to the expectations of our parents and teachers. Our promise to you here tonight is that we will do this to the best of our ability. We of the Senior Class are grateful to you, our parents and Teachers, for your guidance, help, and understanding. Without your help we might not be graduating. We leave this hour of graduation with the wish that our paths may often meet as time goes on and that the spirit and unity which bind us together tonight will endure. IF-