contract for a single project ever received by Clarkson. The weightlessness of outer space
makes containerless processing possible, which permits making useful laser and optical glass in
space.
Commencement.
At the College's 84th Commencement on Sunday, May 22, President Plane
conferred 794 degrees including 144 master's, and 13 doctoral degrees, the largest graduating
class in Clarkson's history. Of the 637 undergraduates, 193 students graduated with honors: 43
with Great Distinction, requiring an average of at least 3.75, and 150 with Distinction, requiring
an average of at least 3.25.
The Clarkson School.
Emerging from a suggestion of Mrs. Mary Plane to create a "Bridging
Year" between high school and college for gifted students, Clarkson introduced a new branch of
education when, in August 1977, 22 young men and women enrolled on campus in The
Clarkson School. The Clarkson School offered students (called "Schoolies" to distinguish them
from regular freshmen) a self-contained community within the College where students who
have completed their junior year in high school fulfilled their high school requirements while
earning 30 semester hours of college credit.
Under the leadership of Clark Bailey, retired US Army colonel and former head of
Clarkson's ROTC program, mathematics professor A. George Davis, and Gary Kelly, and
relying on existing facilities and faculty, these "Schoolie" students attended regular Clarkson
lectures in chemistry, physics, and mathematics. They were strong in mathematics and science,
but had special recitation groups and tutorial instruction. They also took a course designed
especially for them, Development of American Culture.
Because Clarkson could not grant high school diplomas, students who wished to earn a
diploma could pursue one of two avenues. One option required the student to work out a
suitable plan with his or her home high school to satisfy graduation requirements and thereby
receive a diploma. The other was to apply for a diploma from the New York State Education
Department upon successful completion of 24 college credits at Clarkson.
Following successful completion of this year, students were able to continue as
sophomores at Clarkson or seek admission with advanced standing at other colleges. In May,
20 of the original 22 graduates of this program were accepted as college sophomores at a
variety of colleges including Cornell, Bucknell, MIT, Penn State, and of course, Clarkson.
The Clarkson School was described among the nation's "Notable Programs, Promising
Approaches, and Other Improvement Efforts" in
A Nation at Risk
, a report issued by the
National Commission on Excellence in Education in December 1983.
Freshman Class.
Among the entering class in September were 42 valedictorians and
salutatorians and 15 National Merit Scholars.
Sports Notes.
For the 15th time in 16 years, the Clarkson hockey team reached post-season
playoffs. Coach Jerry York celebrated his 100th win and was selected by the American Hockey
Coaches Association to win the Spencer Penrose Award, signifying his being the Hockey
Coach of the Year. Hockey Co-captain Bill Blackwood was chosen All- American for the
second time.
Basketball forward John Gordon surpassed the 1,000-career-point mark during
his senior year.
