Page:Women of distinction.djvu/173

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WOMEN OF DISTINCTION.
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for proficiency in oral spelling. The students were lavish in their commendations and congratulations. Shortly after this Mr. William H. Steward offered a silver medal for proficiency in penmanship and Miss Cook was again victor. May 17, 1883, the trustees elected her permanent teacher and principal of the normal department, in which she held the professorship of Latin and mathematics. Her department was the largest of the University, but she performed her work with credit to herself and school. By an act of the board of trustees she was allowed to continue her studies in the classical department, from which she graduated, taking the degree of A. B., May, 1887.

As a teacher she has proved a success, and seems to exert a magic power over her pupils; though always pleasant, yet at the same time commanding and ruling without trouble; she is yet a hard student, ever keeping abreast with the issues of the day. She is especially good in Latin, biography and mental and moral philosophy. She loves her race dearly and has been connected with nearly every prominent cause for its elevation. When the Baptist Women's Educational Convention of Kentucky was organized in 1883 she was found among them. In 1884 this body made her Second Vice-President and also placed her on the Executive Board. The latter position she holds to-day. In 1885 she was made Assistant Secretary. In 1886 she was chosen Secretary of the Executive Board. In 1887 she was chosen Corresponding Secretary of that body (the Convention), which position she held till 1890. In 1891 she was again made