Atlanta Daily World

76 Receive Diplomas At BTW Midterm Exercises

Seventy-six high school graduates received diplomas at the Booker T. Washington mid-term commencement exercises held Friday at St. Mark AME Church with Miss Ira Jarrell, superintendent of schools, presiding.

Valedictorian of his class and recipient of a $10 scholarship, Aaron Kimbro, is author of the forum 'Looking Ahead in Education,' the thought-packed forum in which he and seven other graduates participated as a part of the exercises.

Mr. Kimbro laid the framework for the arguments as in his introductory speech as he cited the discrimination as practiced against Negroes, in education and in employment. However, he inferred hope for alleviation of these evils as he said, 'The South is throwing away the shackles of discrimination.'

At this point he was interrupted by Leon Peek who declared that the attempt of southern governors to set up a regional plan of education is an attempt to circumvent the rulings of the Supreme Court that equal educational facilities be set up within each state for Negroes. Further he said the plan is devised to perpetuate discrimination with the consent of Congress.

Also opposing the Regional Plan were Miss Eloise Henry, Clarence Hardy and Joseph McCoy. Miss Henry attacked the Negro leaders who endorse the plan. She said that all students, regardless of race should be admitted to the professional schools of their choice within the state.

The equal rate of tax, along with injustices practiced in the tax provided services, were scored by Mr. Hardy who also emphasized the fact that 'segregation is expensive.' He described the Regional Plan as a monument to stupidity on the part of its sponsors.

Mr. McCoy who pointed out that other nations now looking to the United States as leader in the field of human rights would realize the injustice of such a plan and lose faith in its leader. He called upon the press to present the true facts of the plan and to mould public opinion against it.

FOR THE PLAN.

Speaking for acceptance of the plan were Miss Susie Arnold, Miss Etharine Bell and Miss Greeta Reid.

As the South is determined to maintain its discriminatory practices, the Regional Plan is the only practical method by which Negroes may be assured professional education in the region, declared Miss Arnold.

The school orchestra, directed by Mr. Earl Starling, the Girls' Chorus, under the direction of Mrs. Elsie Foster Evans and the Glee Club directed by Mrs. Essie M. Groves furnished the music. Outstanding were the selections, 'The Lamb' by Dett sung by the Girls' Chorus and 'Miserere' from I Trovatore by the Glee Club with Miss Mahala Smith and Mr. Ambrose Phillips singing the arias.

AWARDS.

C. N. Cornell, principal, presented seven awards to Aaron Kimbro, valedictorian and best all-around student; to Leon Peek, salutatorian, to Eloise Henry, most outstanding girl; to Joseph McCoy, most outstanding boy; to John Andrews, most outstanding athlete; to Eloise Henry, the Rich's English Award.

Scholarships from four local colleges and one out-state college were offered to 11 graduates. From Clark College scholarships were offered to Aaron Kimbro, Greeta Reid, Etharine Bell, Mary Evelyn Terry and Johnny Dickerson.

From Morris Brown, Horace Denton, John Andrews, Eloise Welmaker from Morehouse College to Joseph McCoy and Leon Peek; from Spelman College to Eloise Henry.

Kentucky State College offered scholarships to Joseph McCoy and to John Andrew.

Other recipients of scholarship were Jeralyn Hill from Johnson's Super Market, William Thomas Adams from Washington Glee Club, Leon Peek from Sears-Roebuck Company, Lewis Thomas from Bailey Theater, Mary Dean from the Mt. Herman Association; Robert Lee Graves from the Georgia State Rehabilitation Service.

Ed S. Cook, president of the Board of Education, presented diplomas to the members of the class. Rev. A. J. Harris, pastor, gave the invocation.

Members of the graduating class are as follows:

CLASS ROLL.

William Thomas Adams, John Lewis Andrews, Susie Mae Arnold, Etharine Bell*, Edward Beulah, Virginia Laura Boykin, Frank Walker Broadus, Mae Frances Buggs, Alice Virginia Bullard, John Edward Burns, Mabel Elizabeth Campbell, Harvey Carey, Jeanne Barbara Davis, Arthur Louis Dawkins, James Thomas Dawkins, Mary Elizabeth Dean, Portia Clara Dennis, Horace Denton*, George Muse Derricotte, Jr., Johnny Lee Dickerson*, Eldridge Alvin Dixon, Pinkie Eloise Drain, Herschel Dwight, Verna Jane Ellison, James David Farmer, Henry H. Few, Vivian Leontine Finley, Josephine Frazier, Dorothy Lee Gardner, James Odell Gideon, Alyce Gilbert, Robert Lee Graves, Clarence Hardy**, Eloise Henry*, Jeralyne Meredith Hill*, Dorothy Lee Holcomb*, Eddie Jackson, Bettie Jacobs, Aaron Kimbro***, Juliette Virginia Knowles, Murline Lawrence, Samuel Edward Lowe, Beatrice McCalphin, Joseph McCoy*, William Warren McKeever, Jr.*, Teresa Mabry, Doris Elizabeth Merriweather, Eddie Shannon Oliver, Leon Peek**, Tom Perkins, Ruth Bernice Poole, Wendell Pyron, Greeta Valeria Reid*, Tommy J. Scott, Jr., Anthony Augusta Schell, Lenora Shines, Mabel Mozelle Shye, Luther Rosser Slack, F. S. Smith, Harry Strickland, Miriam Louise Sullivan, Geraldine Tate, Mary Evelyn Terry*, Lewis Thomas, Bernice Townsend, Mary J. Walker, Walter Wardley, Eunice Watson, Eloise Welmaker*, Bennie Williams, Hazel Anita Williams, Laura Mae Williams, Rosa Maude Williams, Willie Pearl Williams*, Emma Jean Williams.

***With highest honor.

**With high honor.

*With honor.