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The seventy-ninth annual commencement of Geneva College, June 7, 1927, is now a matter of history. The attendance was exceptionally large. The graduating class numbered more than in any previous year - forty-nine having received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, thirteen that of Bachelor of Science, two that of Bachelor of Science in Education, five that of Bachelor of Science in Oratory three of whom were included among those receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and two Certificates in Music. Including the fourteen who are to receive their degree at the close of the Summer School session in August, the graduates for this year number ninety, forty-two of whom are men and forty-eight women. The Commencement address, delivered by the Rev. John Marinus Vander Meulen, D.D., president of the Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., though comparatively brief, was by those fortunate enough to hear it regarded as a masterpiece.
Owing to the increasing number of graduates year by year and the desire to accommodate their immediate relatives and friends, it was for the first time in the history of Geneva deemed necessary to admit by ticket to the commencement exercises. Quite naturally this innovation created a bit of confusion, especially among the early comers who had not heard of it in advance. Inasmuch however as these tickets of admission were good only until fifteen minutes before the exercises began, most of these early comers gained entrance and were satisfied, the reasonableness of the newly established custom appealing to them.
The salutatorian, second honor member of the graduating class, was Miss Irene Ruth Sutton of West Sunbury, Pa., one of the three who received both a B.A. and B.C. degree. The valedictorian, or first honor graduate, was Miss Maude George Slater of College Hill, Pa. - daughter of the Rev. Dr. John C. Slater, a Geneva graduate in 1895- but since the evening of the day on which she graduated the wife of Kenneth Luney, a graduate of Geneva in the class of 1924. Both demonstrated their ability by the brief but pointed and appropriate addresses delivered.
In a brief but impressive address, President Pearce conferred upon the members of the graduating class the degrees previously earned by them and voted by the college Board of Trustees. He also by the same authority conferred the degree of D.D. upon the following: The Rev. R.C. Reed, North Side, Pittsburgh, Pa., a Geneva graduate in the class of 1885; J.R.W. Stevenson, pastor of a Reformed Presbyterian congregation in Hebron, Kansas; Nanning T. Van Nostrand, pastor of a Baptist church in Albany, N.Y.; Arthur F. Purkiss, General Secretary of the Christian Layman's Association, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Following the above, prizes and medals were announced as follows:
General Excellence Prize, $20: For the highest average grades for the year - Margaret Robb, a sophomore, Beaver Falls, Pa., with honorable mention of Florence Anderson, a junior, Beaver, Pa.
Freshman English Prize, $30: For the best essay on an assigned topic - first prize, $20, Robert Wilcox, Princeton, Ind.; second prize, $10, Murrel Rogers,
Princeton, Ind., with honorable mention of Marx Frantz, Beaver Falls, Pa., and Margaret Hum, New Brighton, Pa.
J.L. McCartney Science Medal: For the best work on an assigned topic in the Department of Science - Paul Cross, a junior, Bruin, Pa.
Advance Bible Prize, $15: For the best work in advanced English Bible study - divided equally between Merrill Robb, a sophomore, Houston, Ill., and Margaret Robb, a sophomore, Beaver Falls, Pa.
Freshman Bible Prize, $15: For the best work in the Freshman Bible class - divided equally between Margaret Hum, New Brighton, Pa., and Margaret Bell, Tanta, Egypt.
Herbert Morton Freshman Excellence Prize, $20: For the best work done in the Freshman class during the year - divided equally between Donald Wilson, New Brighton, Pa., and Clyde Williams, New Castle, Pa., with honorable mention of Fannie Weisman, Emlenton, Pa., and Margaret Hum, New Brighton, Pa.
Edwin F. Wendt Greek Prize, $10: For the best work in the Department of Greek - Ernest Ewing, a sophomore, Glenwood, Minn.
John Lincoln Downie Prize, $27.50: For the student who represents Geneva College in oratory in the Tri-State Conference - Norman Webster, a junior, New Brighton, Pa.
Alumni Prize, $25: For the student in the Senior class who by vote of the faculty has attained superiority during his four years in character, scholarship, popularity and athletics - Morton Clarke, Beaver Falls, Pa.
Lieut. Walter Cooke Lee Prize, $15.- For the best work in the study of Latin - Ada Patterson, a senior, Beaver, Pa.
French Club Prize, $15: For the best work done in advanced French during the year - Gertrude Anderson, a senior, Wilkinsburg, Pa.
Engineering Prize, $10: For the best survey and map of the campus made by a second year student in the study of Engineering - Arthur Jernberg, a sophomore, Monaca, Pa.
Engineering Prize, a set of Drawing Instruments: For the best work in the Mechanical Drawing class - Merle Forst, a freshman, Beaver Falls, Pa.
Music Prize, $25: For the greatest advancement in the study of Music for the year among advanced students - Margaret Conner, a sophomore, Hickory, Pa.
Music Prize, $10- For the best work in the Intermediate Music department - Betty McClain, Beaver Falls, Pa.