Ursinus College - Ruby Yearbook (Collegeville, PA)

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field, his spare time being taken tip with outside engagements during the teachers' institute season in the fall and the commencement season in the spring. Dean Oimvake is a w ide-awake, up-to-date educator and it is his one aim and purpose to keep I rsinus College in the front rank of the educational institutions of the country. In the class room he inspires his students with a love for the subjects in his department by teaching them to think for themselves, but at the same time guiding and directing them along proper channels of thought. In his position as Dean. Professor Oimvake stands in close and personal relationship with every student in the college. They constantly seek his advice and are always welcomed, whether they call on him in his official capacity or simply visit him as a friend. His home is always open to the students and friends of the college and he takes pleasure in assisting them in their wrork in every possible way. Dean Oimvake has a mind peculiarly adapted to administrative work and lias proved himself a capable and efficient executive officer of the college, lie is a worthy successor of the much esteemed Doctor J. Shelly Weinberger, whose good advice, sound judgment and personal example are still felt by both students and teachers. 9

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Dean George Leslie Omwake, A.M., B.D Dean Omwake was horn July 13. 1871. near Grcencastle. Pennsylvania. Brought up in a farmer's home in the heart of the picturesque Cumberland Valley, noted alike for its agriculture and its human culture, he enjoyed the superior advantages of the well-reared American farmer boy. 11 is elementary education, secured in a common school, was lengthened out by reason of short terms and ungraded courses, over a period of ten years. At sixteen, he entered the (ireencastle High School from which he was graduated in 1890. The remainder of his secondary education, the whole of which extended over a period of eight ears. broken a: intervals by three terms of teaching in the public schools, was secured at the Shippensburg State Normal School from which he was graduated itt 1893. and at the Mercersburg Academy, where he received his di ploma with the class of 1895. The necessity of providing his own means together with the deliberation incident to a tardy crystallization of life purpose, saved the young man from hasty and superficial! preparation for college. He entered I'rsinus College with advanced standing in September. 1895. and was graduated from the Classical Group in June. 1898. lie then went to Yale, where he registered as a student in the Divinity School. While primarily a student in theology, lie also attended lectures and pursued courses in philosophy and pedagogy in the graduate scho: I of the University, hi June. 1901, he received the degree of Bachelor f Divinity from Yale, and in the same year, the degree of Master of Arts in course from I'rsinus. He was awarded several prizes while in the academy and the college, and won one of the h'ogg Scholarships in the Divinity School at Yale. Commencement honors were conferred upon him at each of the five graduation exercises which mark the successive steps in his school career. In February, 1901. while yet a student at Yale. Mr. Omwake was elected by the Board of Directors to the Faculty of I rsinus College. For two years he held a iecturership in pedagogy. In June. 1903. he was elected by the Directors to the position of Dean of the College, an office honored from the time of its inception by the senior professor in the Faculty, Doctor J. Shelly W’eitilierger. who at that time retired from active service. Subsequently bis work in the college was elevated to the rank of a department and he was appointed Professor of the 1 lis-tory and Philosophy of Education. In addition to the work of his department, during ‘.he last two years. Professor Omwake lias given courses in Phychology. Ethics, and the F.nglish Bible. I11 July. 1901. lie was licensed by the Mercersburg classis of the Reformed Church to preach the gospel, but having been called at once to tile college lie has not been ordained to the ministry. Nevertheless, he is frequently called upon for sermons and religious addresses throughout the church at large. The greater part of Professor ( bn wake’s public service, however, is in the educational 8

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Contents RUultv and Instructor Dcpabtmekits CeMMENtEMENT Seca e ties The Weekua Y M CA Athletics Clubs Literary M ISC ELL ANE US A DYERTISEMENTS