The Concord Daily Tribune (Concord, NC), May 26, 1921, pages 1 and 3.

FINAL EXERCISES OF COMMENCEMENT AT MT. PLEASANT
Essays Yesterday by Representatives of Senior Class of the Seminary – Contest in Oratory by M. P. C. I.

Mr. L. E. Mabry Won the Medal
Distinctions and  Honors Are Awarded – Twenty Graduates of Institute and Fifteen of Seminary

Mt. Pleasant, May 25, – The commencement exercises of the Collegiate Institute  and Mont Amoena Seminary concluded today, were of the usual high order. At 10 a.m. the large auditorium was full of patrons and friends to hear the reading of essays by representatives of the Senior Class of the Seminary and the contest in oratory by representatives of the Senior Class of the Collegiate Institute. Many expressed the opinion that seldom does one witness more mastery and form that was displayed by the young women and young men performing today. The essays by the young women impressed the audience as both practical and artistic, treating subjects of present day interest, as for instance, “The Consolidated School,” and “American Folk Songs.” The subjects of the orations showed a wide range of interest. The contest was pronounced one that would have done credit to college seniors. While all the young men acquitted themselves most credibly, the judges decided that Mr. L. E. Mabry, of Cabarrus County, who spoke on “The Responsibility of Christian Citizenship,” deserved the medal.

Col. G. F. McAllister announced the following interesting list of distinctions and honors for the Collegiate Institute:

Winners of First Distinction: J. G. Park, E. C. Thomas, C. B. Morton, H. H. Alexander, W. B. Bost, R. C. Harris and A. L. Patterson.

Winners of Second Distinction: C. M. Barrier, J. B. Cassell, J. C. Holoway, R. R. Isenhour, L. E. Mabry, A. E. Moorer, L. D. Parker, C. L. Boldt, W. J. Bost, H. C. Castor, R. L. Gandy, C. R. Ritchie, R. L. Fisher, R. L. Penninger, E. W. Sechler, J. E. Walker, W. C. Gregory, James Harward, and F. R. Moose.

The following were the winners of medals:

Scholarship Medal and Latin Medal – Jas. G. Park.
Declaimer’s Medal – R. C. Harris.
Debater’s Medal – C. M. Ritchie.
Orator’s Medal – L. E. Mabry.
French Medal – A. E. Moorer.
Military Medal – H. H. Alexander

The following list of distinctions and prizes was announced by rev. R. A. Goodman for Mont Amoena Seminary:

First Distinction: Alma Furr, Katie Kluttz, Rebecca Lewis, Pollie Lewis, Miriam Sheirey [Shirey], Wilma Walker.

Second Distinction: Ruth Barringer, Beulah Cauble, Ruth Cress, Mary Virginia Fisher, Margie Harkey, Lena Thelma Seaford, Ruth Shirey, Esther Sink, Mary Belle Smith, Celia Tucker.

First Distinction in Music: Piano – Ruth James, Violet Honeycutt, Wilma Stirewalt; in voice – Mary Margaret Barrier.

Second Distinction in Piano – Lela Beaver, Mary Margaret Barrier, Mary Belle Umberger.

The scholarship Medal, given by Mr. Dewey W. Moose, of Concord, went to Miss Mary Belle Smith, Madison, Va. Miss Ruth Barringer, Mt. Pleasant, N. C., received honorable mention.

The Senior Essay Prize was won by Miss Celia Tucker, Concord, Route 5. The Omega Chapter of the Bernheim Literary Society won the privilege of having the name of the chapter engraved on the Loving Cup which was presented to the Society by the Class of 1914 in honor of Rev. Prof. J. H. C. Fisher and Miss Carolina Hoover.

Those receiving diplomas from the Collegiate Institute were:
C. M. Barrier, Concord, N. C.
J. B. Cassell, Staunton, Va.
G. W. Gregory, Jefferson, S. C.
C. G. Harris, Mooresville, N. C.
Eugene Holmes, Jr., Linwood, N. C.
R. R. Isenhour, Concord, N. C.
A. H. Kimball, Statesville, N. C.
M. D. Kluttz, rockwell, N. C.
R. E. Lentz, Troutman, N. C.
L. E. Mabry, Mt. Pleasant, N. C.
C. H. McManus, Cheraw, S. C.
A. E. Moorer, Charleston, S. C.
J. G. Park, Salisbury, N. C.
L. D. Parker, Pembroke, Va.
P. O. Petrea, Mt. Pleasant, N. C.
C. W. Seiler, Savannah, Ga.
A. R. Thomas, Salisbury, N. C.
H. E. Thomason, Salisbury, N. C.
T. J. Tobiassen, Southport, N. C.
J. N. Strickin, Cheraw, S. C.

This is the largest class that has ever graduated from the Institute.

The graduates from Mont Amoena Seminary were:
Pearle Johnson Archer, Davidson
Ruth Regina Cress, Concord.
Octa Vaine Earnhardt, Concord.
Pearle Anna Camilla Fisher, Salisbury.
Lundy Grace Herrin, Mt. Pleasant.
Ruth Virginia James, Mt. Pleasant.
Mabel Blanche McAllister, Mt. Pleasant.
Omey Elma McAnulty, Mt. Pleasant.
Esther Meeta Sink, Salisbury.
Thelma Vera Suther, Concord.
Mary Belle Smith, Madison, Va.
Celia Price Tucker, Concord.
Mary Belle Umberger, Concord.

The Boards of Trustees of both institutions held important meetings at which steps were taken looking toward extensive improvements on the plants. The Institute Board mad provision for the remodeling of some of the buildings and putting the DeBerry Lentz house, which was recently acquired, in shape for the next session. A gratifying report was made by the treasurer, showing the financial condition of the Institute to be the best for a number of years. The Alumni Association turned over to the Board a large installment on the pledge made to the building fund. The principal reported to the Board the endowment of a memorial Scholarship by the family of the late Chas. Henry Fisher which was received with much gratification.

The Seminary Board at the request of the Alumnae Association, ordered the interior of the Seminary repainted and set aside a sum sufficient to cover the cost. The Alumnae Association pledged itself to refund the amount. The Board also ordered the installation of an overhead tank in connection with the present water system.

Other Interesting Events

The initial number on the Commencement Programme was the operetta entitled the Wild Rose, given by the Senior Class of the Seminary, Satruday evening. The Senior Class was assisted in this by a splendid chorus by representatives of the Sophomore Class. This was regarded by many as the best class exercises witnessed here for a long time.

The recital given Tuesday night by the Music Department of the Seminary consisting of violin, piano, and voice numbers and choruses was enthusiastically received by a discriminating audience that packed the auditorium. This work of the Seminary has been under the very efficient direction of Miss Ada Sitrewalt ably assisted by Miss Helen Misenheimer. The department enrolled an unusually large number this season.

The Annual Drama given on Monday eving fully maintained the high standard set by former efforts in this line. The Lion and the Mouse by Chas. Klein rendered by students of the Institute and the Seminary received the warmest praise of those accustomed to witnessing the best in dramatic art. It is estimated that fully one hundred person were turned away because no more could be crowded into the large hall. There were those present from towns far and near. This feature of Commencement was ably directed by Miss Mabel Lippard and Prof. W. W. Holman, heads of the English departments in the Seminary and Institute.

All played their parts in a most acceptable manner, but special mention should be made of interpretative work done by Miss Helen Misenheimer as Shirley, Carl W. Seiler as Jefferson Ryder, J. C. Holloway as John Burkett Ryder, and Miss Lorene Brown as Mrs. J. B. Ryder.

The Literary Address was a special treat. Rarely has an audience been so highly entertained in Mt. Pleasant as the one which listened to Doctor Howard F. Rondthaler on Tuesday morning. Doctor Rondthaler proposed to enjoy for a time with his hearers some of the delights of a formal education, which is embraced in Literature, Science and History. He carried his audience through those fields again in masterly fashion and must have imparted new zest to those in quest of learning for learning’s sake. A vast fund of information added to an ususually strong personality made the speaker one of the most entertaining that has been heard here for many days.

Large audiences, well rendered programs, cheering, music, enthusiastic students, patrons and friends, and buoyant optimism on every side combined to make the commencement of 1921 one long to be remembered.