State Teachers College News Letter
\olume 16
Elizabeth City, N. C., May, 1955
Number 2
Dr. Grandy Speaks for
Thalia Sorosis
PRESIDENT S. D. WILLIAMS
Faculty Honors President
at Testimonial Dinner
President Sidney David Williams
"as honored at a Testimonial Dinner
lield in the College Dining Hall on
April 15.
The Dining Hall was beautifully
(Iccorated in the school colors, blue
and white, with soft blue lights. In
tlie hackground selections were ren
dered hy the College choir. Mr. Taylor
S. lackson was master of ceremonies.
Shadrack Brown, Jr., president of
die Student Council, began the pro
gram with greetings from the student
l>ody. Greetings from the Alumni, the
Board of Trustees, the Public Schools,
die Faculty, and the Ministerial Alli
ance were given by Mrs. Eddie W.
Howard, Mr. T. S. Cooper, Mr. C. R.
Paige, Mr. A. P. Lester, and Reverend
)■ A, Bahington-Johnson respectively.
Remarks were made by the Presi
dent of Winston-Salem Teachers Col-
Dr. F. L. Atkins.
The guest speaker. Dr. J. ^Vard
Seahrook, President of Fayetteville
State Teachers College, was very
lo'ial as he addressed the audience.
If emphasized the successful career
of President W'illiams.
Edna H. Mitchell presented
faculty gift, a plaque with the
'nscription, “Twenty-five years of dis-
*'nguished ser\ice as Dean and Presi
dent of of Elizabeth City State Teach
es College.” Mrs. Alma M. Newby,
secretary to the President, presented
'■m a book of more than fifty testi
monial letters from educators and
friends.
Remarks were made by the Presi-
/■nt in appreciation for the many
and faculty members who had
'■wognized these years of service.
To the “President” may be empha-
'’'zed the passage found on the first
P‘*ge of the souvenir program, “The
Man who does his work conscientiously
®nd unselfishly must always be, in one
sense
The Thalia Sorosis Club sponsored
\'esper Service on April 3, with Dr.
Samuel Gandy, Director of Religious
Services, Virginia State College, Pe
tersburg, Virginia, as guest speaker.
Dr. Gandy spoke on “The High
Cost of Making Decisions.” As an ex
ample of indecision he pointed out
the student who stands in the “green
jjasture of graduation” and has not
yet decided upon his life’s '.v'ork; also
he referred to the one who believes
that something is wrong with the col
lege and allows himself to become
frustrated because he cannot decide
just what it is.
At the close of the program the
Thalia Sorosis members and guests
assembled in the Lounge of the Flome
Making Department. There a buffet
luncheon was served in the honor of
Dr. Gandy.
—Mary Sjiruill
Robert McFerrin Presents
“Concert of the Year”
ANNUAL COLLEGE DAY
OBSERVED
The annual obser\ance of College
Day on March 28 began during As
sembly hour when President Williams
read the charter of the institution to
the student body.
Dean G. L. Davis presented the sen
iors to President S. D. Williams, who
in turn administered the senior oath.
He then turned over to Agnes Shaw,
Senior Class president, the keys to the
College.
W'hile freshmen stood in the rear of
the auditorium, Agnes Shaw directed
the reseating of sophomores, juniors
and seniors. Othelia Da%’is, dean,
presented the Freshman Class who
took the oath administered by the
Senior president.
“Thinking of You” was the title of
the College Day address delivered by
President Shaw. She emphasized
standards, goals, faith and inspiration
as road marks along the way.
The student body joined in singing
the Alma Mater, after which Seniors
were assigned to teaching positions
on the faculty.
—Dorothy Smith
Never has the college heard such
full, rich deep tones as those of
Rebert Mcl'errin 'ii concert here on
April 15.
McFerrin, who accompanied by
Norman Johnson, included in his re
pertoire nimibers from such composers
as Bach,, Brahms, Verdi and Hall
Johnson.
Although a comparatively young
man McFerrin, shows great promise
of be'coming one of America s leading
baritones. He is the first Negro, male,
to become a member of the Metro
politan Opera.
Following the concert a reception
honoring the artist was held at the
home of President and Mrs. Williams.
College Has Rich Experience
The State Teachers College family
had the rich experience of direct con
tact with the Holy Land just before
Easter Recess.
In a letter from her daughter, Mrs.
Ossie Roval, Dining Hall hostess, re
ceived a vivid description of the Holy
Week revi\ al of historic incidents.
The description included references
to pilgrimages to Old Jerusalem. A-
long the way, there was an opport
unity to stand near the Mount of
01i\es, to travel Judean hills on foot,
and walk on the road that led the way
to Calvary.
The vivid and detailed account of
life in the Holy Land brought our
College family closely in touclr with
the real significance of Holy Week
through Mrs. Royal’s generosity.
Mrs. Royal’s daughter, Mrs. E\an-
.reLnc Darity, lives with her family
Annual High School Day Held
Elizabeth City State Teachers Col
lege was host to ten participating high
schools in subject matter, music and
public speaking contests on Ai^ril 21.
The subject tests given were: arith
metic, algebra, plane gometry, current
events, American history, American
government, general science, home-
making, English grammar, literature,
agriculture, French and biology.
Schools receiving first, second and
third places are listed in order; Arith
metic—C. S. Brown High School,
Winton, N. C.; Robert L. V'ann High
School, Ahoskie, N. C.; and P. S.
Jones High School, Washington, N. C.
Algebra—P. W. Moore High School,
Elizabeth City, N. C.; P. S. Jones
High School and C S. Brown High
School. Plane Geometry—C. S. Brown
High School, P. W. Moore High
School and R. L. Vann High School.
Current Events—P. S. Jones High
School, C. S. Brown High School and
R. L. Vann High School. American
History—C. S. Brown High School,
R. L. Vann High School and E. J.
Hayes High School, Williamston,
N. C. Government—C. S. Brown High
School, R. L. Vann High School and
(See ANNUAL, page three)
a great man.”
—James Godfrey
in Beirut, Libanon, where her husband
serves as a member of the Umted
Nations staff.
Shadrack Brown of Chuckatuck, Virginia has recently been elected
president of the Student Council for 1955-1956. He is a graduate of
Sast Suffolk High School where he served as vice-president of the Student
Council and for three years as president or \ice-president of his class.
As a college student he has been outstanding as a soloist of the College
Choir and” also a member of the Student Council. He is active in the
Y M C A. and also keeper of Records and Seals for the Omega Psi Phi
Fraternity. Brown believes that students must realize diat in student govern-
mmt there are responsibilities and that to meet these responsibilitie.s
cooperation is most important.