NINE GRADUATES RECEIVE DIPLOMAS AT I. O. O. F. HOME RETIRING SUPERINTENDENT PRESENTED WITH WATCH BY PAST GRAND MASTER Final exercises for the 1927-28 school year at the Odd Fellows Home were completed Friday evening when diplomas were presented the nine young ladies composing the 1928 graduating class and the prizes for work done during the year were awarded. Superintendent G. W. Hawkins, whose resignation became effective Saturday, was presented with a handsome watch and chain by C. A. Wheeler, past grand master of the Texas Odd Fellows, as an appreciation of the service which he has rendered the home during his administration. A large number of visitors from various parts of the state visited the home Friday and attended the commencement exercises during the evening, and the audience was further augmented by many Corsicana people. Several selections by the Odd Fellows orchestra under the direction of W. O. Barlow opened the program, with the graduates marching down the long center aisle to the stage as the processional was played. T. G. Brooks of Port Arthur, for many years, superintendent of the home Sunday school, pronounced the invocation. Miss Imogene Harvey, in a very brief but effective address, welcom- ed the visitors and friends of the graduating class. She pointed out that it was a very important, occasion for it marked the close of the first act of their lives, with the second and more important act just ahead, and asked the assistance of the order in making the second act a true success. "To Spring," a piano solo, was very attractively executed by Miss Georgia Davidson. A selection by the girl's sextette of the home was presented in a very pleasing manner. Valedictory Address. Miss Estelle Wilson, valedictorian of the 1928-class, pointed out that the class was completing a very happy past and were facing an unknown future, the success of which depended upon the foundation which they had prepared during their high school days. She paid tribute to the members of the order of Odd Follows and ladies of the Rebekahs for the care and privileges which had been given them; to Superintendent and Mrs. Hawkins for their untiring and faithful efforts; and to the faculty for their work as they realized that the true greatness of America is in its citizenship. Closing her address, she pointed out to her classmates, that the sun which appeared just above the horizon was a rising and not a setting sun. "Youth Unafraid." H. D. Fillers, superintendent of the Corsicana Public Schools, was introduced by Mr. Hawkins as the speaker of the evening. Taking as his subject "Youth Unafraid," the speaker introduced his remarks with the statement that the way in which the girlhood of America was responding to the opportunities offered them proved that the future of the nation was in safe hands. History is full of the remarkable accomplishments of youth unafraid the speaker asserted and pointed out numerous examples which included Columbus, Alexander the Great, Joan of Arc, Jane Addams, and Charles A. Lindbergh. The outstanding example of a fearless youth was pointed out as Jesus Christ in the temple arguing with the doctors. He asserted that the graduates would not face the great second act of life alone but that they would be accompanied by their ambition, courage, hope, prayers and the best wishes of their friends. One of the unique features of the evening, was the class song, which had new words set to the tune of "Among My Souvenirs." J. D. Buster of Sherman, Grand Master of the Texas Odd Fellows, pointed out that there were three essentials of success: Faith in God, faith in country and faith in fellow man. He declared that one should be dissatisfied with anything less: than their best. He then presented diplomas to Georgia Davidson, Artie Chapman, Imogone Harvey, Erma Ruth Wray, Nell Dean, Faye Golightly, Vera Arledge, Clemmie Vest, and Estelle Wilson. Annual Prizes Awarded. Mrs. Annie Savage, president of the Rebekah Assembly of Texas, presented the fine arts medals of- fered by the order each year. The medals for music were awarded Misses Georgia Davidson and Kitty Aldredge, while the expression medal went to Miss Gracie Lewis. The Savage medal offered annually to the young lady making the best average in the commercial department was presented by Frank Hubbard of Kaufman to Miss Estelle Wilson. The annual award offered by W. H. Wray, treasurer of the home board, to the best all-round student in the home was presented by H. J. Emmins of Dallas to Miss Imo- gene Harvey. The award was $25 in gold. Superintendent Hawkins- then presented the annual awards to the boys and girls in the entire home for outstanding work done during the year. The prize winners were: Poultry. 1 Bill Webb, first prize $30; 2 Wash Campbell, $25; 3 Bill Vest, $20; 4 Wulbur Johnson, $15; 5 Jas. Patterson, $10. Industrial Work. Boys: 1 Alden Erwin, $25; 2 Leslie Marbee, $20; 3 Alton McClintock, $15; 4 Nell Wilson, $10; 5 R. D. Hitt, $5. Girls: 1 Imogene Harvey, $25; 2 Nelma Yother, $20; 3 Elizabeth Tice, $15; 4 Opal Whitaker, $10; 5 Jessie Smoke, $5. C. A. Wheeler of Austin, past grand master, took the floor and after tracing the progress of the home under the supervision and guidance of Supt. and Mrs. Hawkins, presented the retiring superintendent, with a handsome watch as a token of the appreciation of the order, the faculty and the children of the, home. In accordance with his usual custom, Dr. E. A. Johnson, of Corsicana. presented a book to the student in each grade making the highest average for the year. He pointed out before making the awards that the averages for 1928 were higher than they had been in several years. The books were awarded to the following: Kindergarten, Mary Fox; first grade, Doris Marie Allen; second, Marian Buckalow; third, Lucile Fox; fourth, Sidney Awalt; fifth, Derrill Williams; sixth, Helen Knight; seventh, Katherine Brown; eighth, Ada Rutherford; ninth, Christine Arledge; tenth, Opal Whitaker; eleventh, Imogene Harvey; commercial, Estelle Wilson. At the conclusion of the program it was announced that the high school now had 23 1/2 units of affiliation, a good gain of 2 1/2 during the past year.   The Corsicana Daily Sun - Saturday, June 2, 1928 Submitted by Diane Richards