FOREWORD
Within our own lifetimes, we-the class of '59-have seen the exploration of space progress from science fiction to science fact. Hardly a week goes by without some new item on television, radio, or in the newspapers about the continuing conquest of space-mankind's greatest adventure since
Columbus discovered the New World. We stand on the threshold of the Space Age. Many of us are probably wondering, "How will this 'Space Age' affect my life?" Actually, no one knows. Events in the past, however, give us a few clues. Think of Michael Faraday, almost 130 years ago making the discovery which led to the development of electric power for the millions. Think about Bell and his telephone, or Ford and his horseless carriage, or the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk. At the time of each of these four discoveries or inventions, many people believed that
their lives would never be affected by these distant events. Today, we can appreciate how limited their vision was. On the end pages of this book, we can see, in full color, a photograph of a landscape familiar to most residents of Centre County. Perhaps, someday a new landmark will be added to this scenea launching pad. Even if this never comes to be, State College, as a university town and a research center, will surely be involved in the conquest of space. New opportunities always bring new responsibilities. As citizens of the Space Age, we must make the best of our talents and skills. This
leads to the idea that, whether we think of it this way or not, our years in State College High are actually training for the Space Age. The familiar State High of today, as depicted on the cover, may well become the Space Academy of tomorrow! These are a few of the reasons which have led us to choose Space as the theme of our yearbook. We think it is a theme which holds interest and excitement for us now, and a theme which will become even more meaningful as the years go by.
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