The Sylva Collegiate Institute commencement was a great success from start to finish and concluded Wednesday evening with the commencement play.
Sunday morning Dr. V.I. Masters of Louisville preached the baccalaureate sermon at the Baptist church to a crowded house. Monday morning at 10:30 was the recitation and declamation contest. The medal for the best recitation was to Miss Ruby Solesbee and the winner of the declamation contest was Mr. Robert Sisk of Bryson City. At 8 Monday night the class day exercises were presented. Tuesday morning at 20 was the debate, the decision going to the negative, it being represented by Mr. Boyd Sherrill and Miss Mary Sue Gribble, but Mr. Everett White was declared the best debater, winning the medal.
Tuesday evening [was] the annual address and awarding of diplomas. The address was delivered by Dr. B.F. Bray of Lynchburg, Va. Then Wednesday the climax came with the presentation of the play, which was the final exercise. “The Wren” was the title of the play, and it was well presented to a large audience.
This institution of learning has enjoyed a very successful year, and the graduating class numbered 25 with three post-graduates. Prof. J.C. Hough has resigned, and Prof. W.C. Reed has been elected as the head of the school for the coming year, which is predicted by many to be one of the biggest yet in the history of the school The entire faculty has not yet been selected, but will be in the near future.
From the front page of the Ruralite, Sylva, N.C., Tuesday, May 18, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn91068754/1926-05-18/ed-1/seq-1/
Institutes provided an education comparable to a modern high school, bridging the gap between public schools and the colleges. In 1900, the Baptist Home Mission Society launched its program of aid to mountain schools in North Carolina, and Sylva Collegiate Institute was one of eight schools supported by the Baptists. To read more about the history of these collegiate institutes, go to
smokymountainnews.com/archives/item/39554-the-brief-history-of-the-sylva-collegiate-institute
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