High-resolution, full color images available online
Search, browse, read, and print yearbook pages
View college, high school, and military yearbooks
Browse our digital annual library spanning centuries
Support the schools in our program by subscribing
Privacy, as we do not track users or sell information
Page 20 text:
“
Activities revolve Around additional space Advancement was inevitable. A new school had finally eliminated most of the old difficulties concerning school functions. A new stage, lighting equipment and professionally-equipped dressing rooms booked the auditorium throughout the school year. Down the hall, dance committees discovered a minor problem: usable space was limited, resulting in over- crowdedness and frequently, uncom- fortable conditions. However, stu- dents seemed to overlook the prob- lem, and still turned out in record- breaking crowds for dances. They had waited long enough for 1973 and dis- played approval of its arrival through successful activities. Excitement and enthusiasm hung in the air throughout Homecoming weekend. On October 20, highly-spir- ited Vikings rewarded spectators as they squeaked by I4th-ranked Plym- outh team with a score of 22-20. During the previous week, another battle raged, but on neutral turf. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors mounted tricycles, smeared on pea- green eye make-up, and donned green and white Halloween cos- tumes to display Viking spirit. The crowning of homecoming queen, Debbie Veselica, during half- time set the stage for Saturday night ' s homecoming dance. Two-hundred and eighty dancers were sandwiched into the south bal- cony christening its unmarred floor with the tunes of C.S. S. Six-hundred people streamed down gold-carpted aisles in a room smelling of fresh varnish for the inaugural per- formance in the VHS auditorium. Heavy velvet curtains parted 23 times for students to display their musical talent in the Folk Concert. Modern facilities eliminated much confusion. A three-part stage enabled two groups to set up while one per- formed. Better lighting equipment created various atmospheres for num- bers ranging from Day by Day, a Christian folk song performed by Amy Ackerman and Sarah Matern, sophomores, to Blues Jam, a piano solo composed by Jon Mitchell, jun- ior. In October, the VHS drama department successfully transformed 23 students into ancient dwarves for two performances of The Hobbit. Thirty-five determined crew mem- bers painted special back-drops, coor- dinated lights, and gathered materials for unusual costumes during the month-long preparation. Patty Lawrence, Elven Queen, com- mented, A fantasy is no harder to put on, it ' s how the audience accepts it. We had to let ourselves go and act like six-year-olds for a month. The choir department attempted a second production on December 3, 5, and 6. With songs guiding the moods, music students danced and sang their way into the 50 ' s. Spike-heeled shoes, wide lapels, and saddle shoes, domi- nated the stage for the musical, The Pajama Game. While actors in the musical pleaded for higher wages, choir was having its own financial difficulties. Although 1000 people saw the musical, choir suffered a loss of $200 from set and prop expenses. Included in the three-night per- formance of the musical was a 31- piece pit orchestra accompanying the actors. A string sextet consisting of five violins, one violo, and one cello gave the play a professional touch. During the holiday season, the annual Christmas • Dance was Hi-Y ' s present to the student body. Seventeen boys and Mr. Martin Miller, sponsor, worked for ten hours to create a Winter Wonderland for students. They wrapped the north bal- cony and cafeteria B in strings of bright lights, decorated trees, and miniature reindeer for 140 couples. A 25-foot snowman and cellophane snowflakes trimmed the walls with Christmas spirit. The holiday season also brought the annual Christmas concert. This year, the concert attracted crowds of over 1000. During the 2 I -number perform- ance, were two excerpts from Jesus Christ, Superstar. The first One-Act contest held at VHS ushered in the 1973 activities. On January 5, the drama depart- ment won a first-place with its per- formance of The Sandbox and Mela- nie Wellner received an excellent performance award in acting. Mrs. Paulette Grotrian, Drama Club sponsor, said that she chose The Sandbox because of its variety of moods. Merrillville High School placed sec- ond in the competition. Other con- testants included Chesterton and Hammond Clark. With Hi-Y ' s dance in the past, V- Teens also had a crack at the new gym. Members captured the hearts and pocketbooks of the student body with the annual King of Hearts Dance. Ticket sales and penny votes earned a record donation of $450 for the Heart Fund. Eighty girls persuaded the male population for dates to the dance. V- Teens president, Debbie Mundinger
”
Page 21 text:
“
by Kim Wellman Barb Nielsen Laura Hoyt Sue Erceg escorted Richard Metzger, King of Hearts with Rick Dowdell, Prince. Coordinating with the theme, Love-ls, members constructed lolli- pops and reproductions of the syndi- cated cartoon strip of the same name for only $ 10. On April 6 and 7, 1 5 acts of student talent entertained audiences at VHS. Keith Wetmore and Mary Beth Waldschmidt, juniors, had no idea that performing a comedy skit in April Antics would end in an argument in room A- 108. Principal Garth Johnson felt that the use of the word contraceptive in their skit was socially unacceptable. We, as a school should provide only wholesome, clean entertainment and not try to compete with T.V. However, the incident didn’t tar- nish the show ' s success. The cast bor- rowed Sesame Street from channel I I for two nights to act as the theme of the production. Two groups who received the most applause were Shaft, a modern dance routine, and Joe Golando’s impersonation of Alice Cooper. Although the auditorium had seen its last ' 73 production, dance chair- men kept the gym in use. Friday the thirteenth is commonly • known as a day of bad luck, but not for Pep Club and Hi-Y ' s Spring Dance. Surrounding the crowd of 300 that filled the north balcony, were posters depicting superstitious sayings, along with four-leaf clovers and calendars. Adding a touch of humor and good luck to the occasion was a guest appearance by a fortune teller, The Great Sid, alias Mr. Reggie. With the year coming to a close, the junior class prepared for their largest class project. Transforming the VHS gymnasium into a southern estate created the theme for this year ' s prom, Southern Splendor. With few people to help decorate, the time-consuming job was personal success for a few juniors. As one walked from the main floor to the north balcony, floral arrange- ments and a fountain guided couples way. A trace of southern exposure was easily accessible by the offering of watermelon, cantalope, and cherries as refreshments. Post-prom followed at Wellman ' s with the crowd occupied from mid- night to 5:30 a.m. with dancing, bowl- ing and pool. Banquet and award nights ranged from a crowded auditorium to a rained out picnic. 1973 banquets held individual meanings to every student involved, because for many, they would be tak- ing on responsibilities of new posi- tions. Mrs-. Karen Alexander, publications sponsor, announced 13 new members of next year ' s Valenian and Valpost staffs. The originally planned sports banquet was pushed forward to June 4 because of track regionals. Rain cancelled Drama Club ' s picnic, but Mrs. Grotrian ' s basement served as Forest Park. V-Teens held their ban- quet at Marrell ' s with mothers in attendance. After the banquets, plays, and dances had run out the clock, the class of ' 73 took graduation in stride. There were tears and smiles, thoughts of regret, relief, and boredom. How- ever, the graduates were dubbed uni- que by the administration, newspa- per, and parents because they were the 1 00th graduating class of VHS. Three-hundred and twenty seniors were led by valedictorian, Andrew Baird, and co-salutatorians, Barb Heoppner and Pat Zentz. With all the graduation activities, seniors found time to attend brunch in the cafeteria as their last big fling as a class. Student life can no longer be defined as football practices or club meetings. In the past three years, students ' activities have broadened. During the winter months, students flocked to the Pines for a day of ski- ing, and for some, a lot of bumps and bruises. When the weather permitted, a drive to the dunes with zig-zags in hand occupied all spare time and weekends. Days off from work pro- vided opportunities for students to catch the South Shore for Chicago or just a bike-hike to anywhere. The lowered drinking age in Michi- gan was the spark for week-end migrations of Valparaiso ' s 18-year- olds to Casey ' s and Wayside. For some, these and other activities are a way of life. But meetings, dances, and plays haven ' t disap- peared from students ' calendars. The new school paved the way for increased enthusiasm in 1973 activi- ties. + 1 . 1 .
Are you trying to find old school friends, old classmates, fellow servicemen or shipmates? Do you want to see past girlfriends or boyfriends? Relive homecoming, prom, graduation, and other moments on campus captured in yearbook pictures. Revisit your fraternity or sorority and see familiar places. See members of old school clubs and relive old times. Start your search today!
Looking for old family members and relatives? Do you want to find pictures of parents or grandparents when they were in school? Want to find out what hairstyle was popular in the 1920s? E-Yearbook.com has a wealth of genealogy information spanning over a century for many schools with full text search. Use our online Genealogy Resource to uncover history quickly!
Are you planning a reunion and need assistance? E-Yearbook.com can help you with scanning and providing access to yearbook images for promotional materials and activities. We can provide you with an electronic version of your yearbook that can assist you with reunion planning. E-Yearbook.com will also publish the yearbook images online for people to share and enjoy.
