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Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Commencement Tops Successful Year at Livingstone College, June 21, 1923

Livingstone College Closes Successful Year—Plans for Greater Work Perfected—Alumni Holds Annual Meeting

Prospects for the greater development and growth of Livingstone College seem brighter now than they have been for years. There is a reason to believe that most of the weighty handicaps will be removed and a well regulated and stronger organization will be effected. This will come as a result of larger financial support from the Church, more teachers of the required standard, adequate physical equipment for the institution and a highly cooperative relationship between the members of the church, alumni, trustees and the personnel of the officers, instructors and students of the college.

It is hoped that Livingstone soon will be not only recognized as an institution of A classification, but that it will be known to be well-prepared in every phase of its work to send out such products of manhood and womanhood as will be welcomed by any city and any town as law-abiding, respectable and progressive citizens. Firm organization, system, good discipline and thoroughness of training—religious, educational, physical and cultural, will characterize the work of the school. It is encouraging to know that the educational forces of the State of North Carolina and the educational branch of the Medical Association both are cooperating in the effort to bring about a larger and better Livingstone and to aid in its meeting all necessary requirements.

As the chief institution of the A.M.E. Zion connection, Livingstone College nor offers courses in College, Theological, Music and High School Departments, the latter comprising branches in Teacher Training, Stenography, Home Economics and Manual Training, strengthened in accordance and in compliance with standardized college, and, therefore, liberal and thorough courses can be assured.

The Theological Seminary now offers courses leading to the degree of B.D. as well as the certificate course and it continues to grow and turn out better prepared and stronger ministers.

Recent changes in the High School Department make it possible for students to elect any of the following courses: College Entrance, Teacher Training, Vocational and Stenographic. Those preparing to enter College would elect College Entrance course; those planning to teach, the Teacher Training course; those wishing to specialize in Home Economics or Manual Training or in either of its branches, would elect the Vocational course, and those desiring to become stenographers, the Stenographic course. This affords a broader opportunity for special training and its open to all High School students.

Special courses are offered in Piano Music to all students, in addition to instruction given in the choral, glee clubs and other vocal groups and organizations.

The Junior High School serves as High School preparatory. Many students applying for entrance to the First year class are found to be ineligible for entrance despite the fact that they hold certificates from the seventh grade in the elementary schools. It has been found necessary, therefore, to retain this class, the Junior High, as a stepping stone to and preparation for the work of the High School.

Another step forward along literary development is the addition this year of a library fee to the entrance fees. With this fee, current publications will be secured, new volumes will be obtained to add to the source of information for research and the student as it means so much to a student to have ready access to supplementary ideas and thoughts in connection with his studies.

The laboratory fees, of course make it possible for fuller courses in the Science departments and the fees in these departments have been so arranged this year as to strengthen the scientific work and to provide for adequate experimental work.

In addition to the changes made in each of the departments named, there have been constructive changes made in the offices. The system of keeping records of all kinds has gone through the process of overhauling and while the new system has not yet been perfected, the offices are much better prepared to take care of the records and to make available necessary information with regard to them. Other changes which will lend toward the advancement of the work may be ?? in the 1922-23 issue of the catalogue.

The 41st annual commencement exercises of the college were largely attended and offered many interesting features as usual. The members of the graduating classes were as follows:

College, A.B.

Martin Beamon

William Blackwell

Louico Caldwell

Ruth Elms

James Hardy

William A. Johnson

Katie Massey

J.C. Mosette

Laura Reeves

Charles Robinson

Wm. Scipio Todd

McKinley Wyatt

J.C. Moselle was valedictorian and Wm. A. Johnson, salutatorian.

Theology:

B.D. Cauthen

J.D. Cauthen

J.P. Cofield

F.Z. Flack

Robert Jones

A.B. Moseley

English Course:

J.C. Nelson

Mr. Cofield had the highest rank in the degree course, and Mr. Nelson deserved special mention for his very high grade of scholarship in the English course. Rev. F.Z. Flack received both the A.B. and B.D. degrees, having fulfilled his requirements in the College Department as well as in the Theological Department.

The High School graduates numbered 46. Of this number 29 pursued the College Entrance course, 12 Teacher Training and 5 Commercial. Evelyn Caldwell and Vernon Jones tied for first rank and Glascoe Deane, Willie Gilliard and Odessa Rivers tied for second rank.

Medals were awarded as follows:

The Bruce Gold Medal for highest scholarship in Theology to the student in the degree course, J.Pl Cofield.

Price Gold Medal to the member of the Junior College Class who won in the oratorical content, Vivian R. Campbell.

Patrick Gold Medal to the student in stenography who had the highest average for speed and accuracy in the contest for dictation and transcription, Maude Ingram.

One of the most interesting features of our Commencement was the address of Dr. S. Parkes Cadman of Brooklyn, N.Y. Dr. Cadman is said to be one of the best platform orators, if not the very best, in America. He delivered a very forceful and impressive message as only Dr. Cadman can do.

Because of the interest of the Church, the effort of the alumni, the careful direction of the trustees and the sacrificing work of the president and faculty, and for the sake of the future of the Negro in Zion and in all the world, we hope for a stronger, nobler, better and more far-reaching Livingstone. That this may be, there must be the hearty and loyal support of every Zionite everywhere, of every alumnus everywhere and we hope for the cooperation of everyone everywhere who is interested in the cause of education and in the development and progress of the Negro race.

--Dr. D.C. Suggs, President, Salisbury, N.C.

From page 3 of The Star of Zion, June 21, 1923

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