School: Spencer School Commencement Exercises (1941)

Contact:  stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames:  Krause, Drews, Hansen, Thomas, Krause, Wachholz, Buse, Baldwin, Sersch, Martens, Waldhart, Corbett, Sautner, Brockopp, Goeler

----Source:  Spencer Record, Spencer, Wis.) 06/05/1941

The Municipal hall was filled to capacity on Thursday evening, May 29, when thirty young people from the Spencer high school received their diplomas.  These young people have completed four years of training, and received congratulations for having successfully reached another milestone in their preparation for the more active duties of community, state, and national life.  Their motto, "Today Decides Tomorrow" indicates that they realize to some extent at least the importance of the training they have received up to this time, and that upon the foundations now laid they must build the achievements of tomorrow.

The class of 1941 of the Spencer high school was only represented at the graduation exercises by the salutatorian, Bernard Krause, and valedictorian, Donald Drews.  In their addresses, these boys stressed the need today for men of sterling character, and men who could think a problem through to a logical conclusion instead of blindly accepting the opinions of other men.

The commencement address was given by Wm. C. Hansen, president of Central State Teachers college, Stevens Point.  President Hansen commented very favorably on the addresses given by the salutatorian and the valedictorian.  He then told the young men and women of the graduating class that although the geographical frontiers of our country had vanished, there were frontiers in many other fields waiting to be explored.  He pointed to the need for further investigation and development in the field of economics, and stressed the possibilities for advancement in the field of personal health.  He stated that while all young people could not and probably should not attend college, there were opportunities in other fields which would challenge their talents and abilities, and that these fields of labor and endeavor were as honorable as the fields in which a college training was required.

Principal J. R. Thomas then presented the Good Citizenship Award, given by the Wausau Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, to Berniece Buse who had been chosen for that honor by the class and the faculty.  Scholastic letters were presented to Donald Drews, Bernard Krause, Donald Wachholz, Berniece Buse, Dale Baldwin, Ruth Sersch, Violet Martens, and Ardath Waldhart.  Forensic letters were awarded to Craig Corbett in oratory; Eunice Sautner in extemporaneous reading; Mable Brockopp in humorous declamation, and Eunice Goeler in serious declamation.  The thirty graduates were then presented with handsome book diplomas in maroon suede leather covers.