From "The San Antonio Light", San Antonio, Texas, February 10, 1915:

CROWD ENJOYS EXERCISES FOR 54 GRADUATES

Musical and Literary Program Is Presented at Beethoven Hall.

SCENE IS A PRETTY ONE

Good Advice Is Given in Salutatory and Valedictory Addresses.

Fifty-four students of the Main avenue high school were presented 
with diplomas at the commencement exercises Thursday night at 
Beethoven Hall.  More than 1000 parents, relatives and friends 
came to see them graduated and applauded each number on the musical 
and oratorical program which was presented.

As the audience was being seated, filling to overflowing the large 
hall and gallery, the high school orchestra played an overture, 
including several selections.  Divine blessing and guidance for 
each student just beginning his career was asked by Rev. Arthur 
Gray Jones, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, who delivered 
the invocation. When the curtain first was drawn, members of the 
class were disclosed in a scene in the open and sang in chorus, 
"Tripping O'er the Hills."

Present a Pretty Picture.

Dressed in neat white frocks, many of which were made entirely by 
the wearers themselves and each holding a bouquet of sweet peas, 
the class flower, the thirty-eight young women presented a 
pleasing picture. The sixteen young men were attired in suits of 
dark blue and wore carnations as lapel bouquets.

Ernest Arthur Baetz, salutatorian, welcomed the parents, relatives 
and friends and delivered an address on "High School, a Factor for 
Efficiency."  Passing on from arguments showing the necessity of 
high school training in preparation to fight life's battles, he 
reviewed the fields of endeavor open to each of his classmates, 
pausing now, he said, on the threshold of their careers, but soon 
to pass through the portal into a bigger and broader life and a 
bigger and broader world than the sphere they had known in school.

He particularly emphasized the modern trend in industrial endeavor, 
predicting that each young woman of the class soon will be able to 
cast her ballot in Texas and advising those of the young men the 
least bit agriculturally inclined, to respond to the plea of those 
behind the "back-to-the-farm" movement.  He concluded with the 
statement that it was his hope evidence soon will be apparent that 
the money spent in educating the fifty-four members of his class 
had not been squandered.

"Joy of the Morning" was the title of the vocal selection by 
Miss Ora Lee Clark.  Miss Agnes Kray read an essay on "The Poetry 
of Sidney Lanier," reviewing his life, a part of which he spent in 
San Antonio.  Miss Florence Perry sang "Merrily I Roam."

Influence of Environment.

In the valedictory address, the title of which was "The Influence of 
Environment," Miss Lillian Lottie Howard spoke of the change in 
environment and influence soon to affect the graduates. She said 
the students would now cease to think thoughts of others which they 
studied in books and would be forced to think thoughts of their own.  
She pointed out the benefits that would be theirs all the days of 
their life as a result of environment during high school days.

"For the last several years my name has been on the commencement 
program for an address to the graduates as the president of the 
school hoard." said Dr. Frederick Terrell, "and every year I have 
introduced some orator in my place.  I think I had better say a few 
words this time, in view of the fact the many suits recently filed 
against the board may mean my name will not be on the program as 
president again."

"Esse Victoribus Nihil Impedetum — I understand that to be your 
motto," Dr. Terrell continued. "Let me give you a new translation:  
"If you want to be with the winners, 'go to it!' There's nothing in 
the way.'  Dr. Terrell introduced Nat M. Washer, who addressed the 
graduates as a representative of the school board.   He admonished 
them to emulate Solomon in electing to have wisdom above all else, 
for with that they would be able to accomplish all else. After the 
diplomas had been distributed by Mr. Washer, the class sang in 
chorus: "To the Class of 1915,'' an original song composed by 
Mrs. Lulu Griesenbeck, head of the musical department of the public 
schools.  Mrs. Griesenbeck directed the musical numbers of the 
program.

Officers of Class.

Officers of the February class are:
Ralph Townsend Heard, president;
Miss Eleanor Wright, vice president;
Miss Elizabeth Beal, secretary; 
Ernest Arthur Baetz, treasurer; 
Jack Holland Cassity, sergeant-at-arms; 
John Vernon Hankla, reporter.

Diplomas were awarded to:
Jessie Alburger, Ernest Baetz, John Bain, Elizabeth Beal, 
Myrtle Bowden, Genevieve Breen, Leo Caruth, Jack Cassity, Ora Lee Clark, 
Lena Dykman, Catherine Elliot, Mary Fly, Alexander Folts, Ella Frass, 
Alfred Garza, Carrie Gentzen, Owen Hood, Bruce Houston, John Hankla, 
Norman Huyman, Ralph T. Heard, Lillian Holeman, Lottie Howard, 
Kathleen Hull, Gladys Hurst, Veva Isenbower, Carlota Jaggi, 
Walter Janert, Helen Johnson, Roberta Johnson, Lottie Kelly, 
Jamie Kerr, Lyttie Kimbrough, Agnes Kray, Cecile Lachanelle, 
Adel Langendorff, Frank Love, Edna Montgomery, Mary Niemann, 
Bessie Newnam, Jessie Newnam, Florence Perry, Elizabeth Phelps, 
Clara Price, Charles Sherrill, Ida Shields, Mary Smartt, Eloise Staats, 
Robert Steinfeldt, Doris Torbert, Doris Vallee, Roger Walker, 
Loraine White and Eleanor Wright.