Graduation Exercises at Springwater School Mark Close of Year’s Class Work

Unknown Author - Genesee Country Express

25 June 1936

Springwater - The doors of the Springwater Union School have been closed for the summer vacation, following a busy and eventful year. High school graduation Monday evening was the last of the year’s activities.

Commencement festivities for Springwater Union School began Friday evening when the grade commencement was held in Springwater Town Hall for eighteen eight grade graduates. Gerald Gordon and Miss Virginia Harris were the valedictorians and salutatorian, respectively. Principle George O. Luce presented diplomas to the following:

Elsie Beman, Carl Bickford, Lorene Bomstad, Frances Clayton, Dale Eldridge, Robert Eldridge, Gerald Gordon, Virginia Harris, Evelyn Hynes, Norma Jacobs, Clarence Leeson, Stuart May, Edmund Miller Jr., Darwin Perkins, Gladys Pragle, Robert Simpson, Herbert Stuart and Mildred Van Scooter.

Money prizes were given by the W. C. T. U. for essays and posters prepared by the pupils.

Principal Luce also awarded several prizes as follows:

Grade Four - Lorane Fairbrother.

Grade Five - Cora Mae Fisher.

Grade Six - Betty Gordon.

Grade Seven - Georgia Benway.

Grade Eight - Norma Jacobs.

Freshmen - Mary Miller.

Sophomores - Avis Colegrove

Juniors - Robert Miller

Seniors - Frederick Holmes

Gerald Gordon, with a Regents average of 93 per cent and Virginia Harris, with a Regents average of 91 per cent, were awarded the first and second prizes, respectively, for the eighth grade honor pupils, given by Mrs. Delos Wilcox, teacher of the grammar grades.

Fourteen pupils were awarded certificates for perfect attendance during the year.

Saturday the school picnic was held at Long Point Park, Conesus Lake.

Over one hundred and twenty attended the baccalaureate service held Sunday evening in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Rev. Helena L. Champlin, pastor, preaching the sermon.

Seven Students Graduated From High School

High school commencement was held Monday evening in the town hall. Miss Helen W. Wilcox, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Wilcox, gave the valedictory, and Miss Marie I. Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Smith, the salutatory. The Rev. W. J. Brown, pastor of Springwater M. E. church from 1912 to 1915 and present pastor of the Geneseo M. E. church, delivered the address to the graduates.

Miss Dorothy Jane Hickok, music instructor in Laura Coffee Memorial School, Des Moines, Iowa, played a flute solo. George E. Elliott, president of the Board of Education, presented diplomas to the following graduates: Carl Eugene Beers, Lovira Vivian Gillette, Frederick S. Holmes, Richard C. Hynes, Pearl Vivian Robinson, Marie Irene Smith and Helen Wiley Wilcox.

The graduates wore caps and gowns, believed to be the first time since 1918. For the first time in several years a gift was presented to the school by the senior class - an American Flag with standard. The presentation was made by Richard C. Hynes, and Principal George O. Luce accepted it for the school.