In May 1902, the Fourth Annual Commencement was held at Wiconisco High School, Wiconisco, Dauphin County Pennsylvania. Only two graduates were honored with diplomas: Miss Gertrude E. Hochlander and Harry L. Miller.
Not as much newspaper attention was given to this commencement as was given to the previous year, but attention was given to Wiconisco‘s statement that the education given to its students was free of political influence and therefore was well above par.
A brief notice was made in the Lykens Standard of May 23, 1902 regarding the Baccalaureate:
Rev. T. L. Josephs, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Wiconisco, will preach the Baccalaureate sermon to the graduating class of the Wiconisco High School on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
A description of the Commencement was published in the Lykens Standard, May 30, 1902:
Commencement Exercises at Wiconisco
The fourth annual commencement exercises of the Wiconisco High School were held in the Wiconisco Methodist Episcopal Church, Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. There were only two graduates this year, Miss Gertrude E. Hochlander and Harry L. Miller, but this fact did not detract from the interest manifested on similar occasions heretofore, for the spacious edifice was quickly filled to the doors by the relatives of the graduates and the friends of education of our neighboring town. This was the first commencement under the principalship of George E. Mark, and the manner in which the graduates acquitted themselves verifies the statements of the careful, painstaking instructions to prepare those under his care to march forth and successfully fight the battles of life. Incidentally, it might be well to state that at the present time, that so high has the standard of the Wiconisco Public Schools always been placed that its graduates have had no difficulty in securing lucrative employment. It is not necessary to mention any names, but recall to your memory the graduates of these schools, and you find among them leaders in the trades and professions of life. The directors of these schools, for the wisdom displayed in always selecting the best –ent obtainable as instructors, also deserve great credit, for as the hus–man soweth, so he reapeth. A useless, indifferent instructor will turn out poor graduates, often the result of electing to this position men suggested by the dominant political party, to whom the directors owe their election. This, however, is not the case at Wiconisco, hence its excellent schools.
The article concluded with the names of the program participants. Some of the information at the left edge of the clipping was cut off, but the participants names were all at the right of the column and are summarized as follows:
- The Orchestra played opening and closing selections
- The invocation was by Rev. E. Devine
- Graduate Harry L. Miller gave an address entitled “Our Civilization”
- Miss Velma E. Orndorff presented a solo accompanied by Miss Maud Orndorff
- Graduate Gertrude E. Hochlander presented an address entitled “Heroines”
- Mrs. L. K. Diefenderfer sang a solo accompanied by Miss Maud Davis
- Address by John C. Nissley, Esq.
- Jacob Diener, William Bateman, Solomon Batdorff, J. W. Orndorff, and Emanuel Miller sang accompanied by Maud Orndorff
- Superintendent H. V. B. Garver presented the diplomas
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News articles from Newspapers.com.
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