BY DOUG STRAND
AND BETH KOSTICK

Now that this year's Senior Honors Assembly is history, one may wonder what kind of future awaits those honored. For a possible answer we can look to the Class of '69.

This July 14 the Maine West Class of '69 will hold its 10‑year reunion. It is then appropriate and, with the brief background information sent from those planning to attend the reunion, possible to use the class in this search to find out what can happen to the outstanding in a Maine West graduating class.

The '69 valedictorian was Steve Baenzinger. He was also voted "Most Likely to Succeed." After graduating from Maine West, Steve went onto graduate with high honors from Harvard with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry. He then went on to get his master's and Ph.D. in plant genetics at Purdue University. Now he works with the U. S. Department of Agriculture as a plant breeder, breeding winter wheat and barley.

In a 1969 Westerner article Steve said that his ultimate goal was "the prevention of world hunger." Although, according to Steve, age has "toned down" his ambitions, he still feels that he has helped prevent world hunger. By

increasing the disease resistance of wheat and barley crops and thus increasing agricultural production, Steve has helped lower the price of these commodities, thus allowing the underdeveloped countries to buy more to feed their starving populations. Overall, Steve feels that he is a successful Maine West graduate.

Another noteworthy example is Marilyn Coombs. In 1969 a scholarship was awarded to a deserving graduate by the Girl's Athletic Association. Marilyn won that award. She continued her education at the University of Illinois and graduated with a bachelor's degree in park and recreational administration. Now she works with the Herperia (California) Park District. In the past few years she has contributed articles to numerous periodicals, including the Illinois Park and Recreational Magazine and has published a book titled Games, Games, Games.

Some '69 graduates are now living in foreign countries. One of these is Sandy Laufenburger. Sandy received both the Mathematics Departmental Award and the Soroptimist scholarship.

Really, we couldn't find a graduate who was outstanding in 1969 and not in some way "successful" today. Let's hope the same will be said for the Class of '79.