Bingham High School Alumni Newsletter Spring/Summer 2012 MINER DETAILS 2012 Scholarship Recipients Spring/summer 2012 12 Alumni Scholarships were presented on May 10, 2012 at Newsletter Features the annual Alumni Scholarship Awards Night More about our outstanding Scholarship Recipients 2 Down Memory Lane With John J. Creedon 3 Class of 2012 Graduation Highlights Principal Tom Hicks refreshments that evening in 4 - 8 Thirteen Bingham High School the school media center. The seniors were the recipients of recipients were presented a We’ll Always Remember Pay Dirt Club Nominations alumni scholarships presented Bingham Centennial book Class Representatives at the annual Alumni written by Scott Crump and a Donation Information Scholarship Awards Night on Centennial DVD along with Class of ’73 Chat and Chew, etc. May 10, 2012. Students and their scholarship check. 9 - 12 parents along with members of Congratulations to these It is always a great day to be a Miner! the Alumni Foundation outstanding graduates! enjoyed the presentations and outstanding graduates! James Goris Memorial Scholarship – Chad Garner Jason Laxman Memorial Scholarship – Samuel Watkins Danny White Memorial Scholarship – Johnny Le Yvonne Cardwell Scholarship – Rachel Murphy Beard Family Scholarship – Erica Knight Virginia McDonald Fine Arts Scholarship – Melissa Jones Norma O. Nichols Memorial Scholarship – Luke Saunders Sophia Lovrich Piedmont Scholarship – Kate Perry Cal Crump Scholarship – Zachary Brock George Lendaris Scholarship – Victor Jiracek John Saltas Journalism Scholarship – Alyssa Nielsen 1908 Club Scholarship – Joshua Simpson BHS Class of 1965 Scholarship – Aleah Montoya Bingham High School Alumni Newsletter Spring/Summer 2012 As part of the application process, senior students were asked to write a short essay on “What does being a graduate of Bingham High School mean to you?” Victor Jiracek, recipient of the George Lendaris Scholarship, says, “There is more to graduation than being handed a piece of paper stating your achievements. The whole idea of school is to provide the student with an experience that will enrich their life. Education is a primary focus at Bingham High School, but there is more that comes from attending classes. I know that I will look back on these years with pride as I tell my children about the school that is Bingham. I am proud to call myself a Bingham graduate.” Alyssa Nielsen, recipient of the John Saltas Journalism Scholarship, shares, “Graduating from Bingham has opened many doors for my future and it has made me a better person. I have learned the importance of honesty through my participation in National Honor Society, the importance of service in Key Club, the importance of hard work in Newspaper, but most importantly Bingham has taught me what it means to be a ‘Miner’ student.” Samuel Watkins, recipient of the Jason Laxman Memorial Scholarship, wrote, “All diplomas are not created equal. Most just assure that the bearer passed enough classes to be deemed competent in a high school setting. However, in a select few places, a diploma not only carries a certification of education, but it also carries with it an identity. This identity will stay with a person and help define them for the rest of their life. This is why it is so special to graduate from Bingham. For the rest of my life, I will be privileged to carry with me the spirit and tradition of Bingham. I will be able to proudly say, ‘I am a Miner.’ I will live my life the best I can knowing that I am representing my alma mater, Bingham High School.” Zachary Brock, recipient of the Cal Crump Scholarship, proudly states, “Being a graduate of Bingham High School means the world to me. Bingham has sunk into the very essence of my being. The spirit of scholarship, achievement, and excellence has become inseparable from my soul. The Miner lives on through me and through every individual who has passed through the halls of Bingham High School. It’s more than just a great day to be a Miner; it’s a great lifetime to be a Miner.” Johnny Le, recipient of the Danny White Memorial Kate Perry, recipient of the Sophia Lovrich Piedmont Scholarship, says, Scholarship, states, “I love most “Graduating from Bingham High School means that I have been able to how Bingham has changed me. pursue academic excellence in a good environment with excellent Being a part of these traditions, teachers and friends.” the school spirit, and joking with the administration has turned Melissa Jones, recipient of the Virginia McDonald Fine Arts Scholarship, me from a shy uninvolved says, “Graduating from Bingham High School to me means honor, student to someone who wishes knowledge, and self-worth. I feel confident that I can continue growing they could do it all again.” in college and wherever else I might go because of the outstanding environment at Bingham. I know that Bingham High School has influenced me by pushing me to succeed and helping me along the way.” Continued on page 8 2 Bingham High School Alumni Newsletter Spring/Summer 2012 Down Memory Lane with John J. Creedon I shall always be grateful for the opportunity of growing particular neighborhood and get initiated. This up in Bingham, truly a melting pot of humanity. It is true happened to my brother, Dan, the first day we were in that most mining towns were largely made up of Bingham. Mother sent him down town to the Bingham different races and creeds, but here we were so compact. Merc for a piece of stovepipe. One hour later he returned We all used the same schools, the same churches. We with the black stovepipe and a pair of eyes to match. He went to the same theaters and the same entertainments. had been initiated into the Carr Fork gang. Mother ran a We even used the same street. (Of course we only had boarding house for the railroad men and took care of the one to begin with.) This closeness produced a tolerance B&G dormitory too. Life was never dull in a boarding and understanding between people from different house in those days, with boomer railroad men and countries and places, that is not present in larger cities. miners continually on the move. I was fascinated by the Two of our native daughters, who have made their mark tales of some of these men and would take in every word in their chosen profession, Ivy Baker Priest and Dr. they would say. They had been around, or at least they Lenore Richards have told me on several occasions that talked like it. Some had sailed the seven seas, worked on the background and environment of Bingham was an every railroad in the country, or worked in many of the important part in their relations with the public and gave famous mining camps in the West. Tex Marshall, a tall them a broader understanding of the many problems that lean Texan, was one of my favorites. He would talk in confront all of us from time to time. I remember well of Spanish and throw fits for my benefit. He remained a my first friends—boys and girls of many nationalities, good friend of mine until his death. “Society” Brown Swedes, Finns, Greeks, Italians, Japanese, Jewish, was another character I remember so vividly. He was a Austrians, Slavonians, English and Irish. We had no dandy for sure. He wore a derby hat and carried a cane. racial problems as I can recall. We all played together He worked at the B&G Depot. One Christmas, he paid and we even picked up some of the languages of our mother his board bill with twenty-five one dollar bills, friends. Most of the Austrians and Slavonians and a each tied with a pretty red ribbon and in a fancy jewel good portion of the Italians settled in Highland Boy, and case. Another character I remember was a pompous old the Greeks, Japanese and Englishmen in Upper gentleman, named Howard, but called General Noga, by Bingham. Carr Fork was the home of the Swedes my mother. She said he reminded her of Noga, the hero and Finns, and Upper Main had the bulk of the of the Russian-Japanese war. He disliked children, and especially me. I was bribed by Tex and some other men Italians. It was considered unwise in those early to slam the door whenever I came in the house during days to venture into a new territory alone. You dinner hour as this displeased him very much. I made would probably run into one of the gangs in that quite a bit of money, as I was most cooperative in making life miserable for him. 3 Bingham High School Alumni Newsletter Spring/Summer 2012 Class of 2012 – Graduation Highlights Principal, R. Thomas Hicks – May 31, 2012, 3:00 p.m., Utah Valley University Events Center Bingham High School is a school that is highly successful in academic, arts, activity, and athletic achievements, rich in tradition, history, and culture, proud in spirit, integrity, and loyalty, and strong in compassion, service, and social relationships. Bingham first opened its doors on September 9, 1908. The first Bingham High School was actually known as Canyon Hall. During the 1909-1910 school year there were 31 students and two teachers. Eugene Hart was the supervising teacher, which was what the school principal was called in those days. I firmly believe that, a hundred years later, in the Class of 2012, these graduating seniors are smarter, better looking, and better prepared to face and conquer the challenges of the future. During the 2011-2012 school year, there are several faculty members who have been recognized as outstanding educators by students, Jordan School District Board of Education and administration, and state and national organizations.