CLASS NOTES Helen Paisley Sockwell (1965) is a retired teacher living in McLeansville, North Carolina. She has written a book about the history of her community titled, “Life, Lore and Legend of McLeansville.” She has also assisted in her grandchildren’s classrooms and taught a series of Biblically-based Sunday school lessons. Oakie Canipe (1966) and his wife, Rachel Canipe, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Nov. 27, 2014. The couple celebrated with a trip to Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Mexico. They have two twin sons, Ken and Chris Canipe. Stanley R. North (1967) has practiced small animal medicine and surgery for 40 years as the owner of Brielle Animal Clinic in Brielle, New Jersey. He says he owes a sincere “thank-you” to HPU for giving him the initiative to seek out and achieve the profession of veterinary medicine — a profession that he loves to this day. Tal Leverett (1968) is a creative consultant for Fly on the Wall Entertainment. He recently wrote scripts for 13 episodes of the first season of “Gold Diggers,” a new reality television series. Leverett also provided stories for another series titled, “In Search Of…”
Fayetteville Kiwanis Club in 1995, Cooper has maintained perfect attendance and has been awarded three of the club’s most prestigious awards in the field of civic leadership, Kiwanis spirit and committee involvement. He also serves on the HPU Board of Visitors. Billy Sorrell (1977) was inducted into the T. Wingate Andrews Athletic Hall of Fame in High Point. Sorrell began his baseball career at T. Wingate Andrews High School, pitched for three years as a student at HPU, and was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1978. He lives in High Point. Lane Evans (1980), the director of tennis and wellness at Champion Hills Club in Hendersonville, North Carolina, spoke at the 2014 Australian Grand Slam Coaches Conference in Melbourne, Australia. He was also awarded the “2014 Fred Burdick USPTA Pride of the South” and the “2015 Industry Excellence” awards by the United States Professional Tennis Association. Tom Gamble (1987) is the senior personnel executive for the San Francisco 49ers.
Sheri Wren Haymore (1975) presented her two novels, “A Higher Voice” and “A Deeper Cut,” at the City Lights Bookstore on July 26, 2014. Haymore lives in the Mt. Airy, North Carolina, area with her husband and dog. Gary Cooper (1977) is the governor of the Carolinas District of Kiwanis International. Since first joining the
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Robert Shenigo (1988) completed his fourth and final Iron Triathlon race.
Bobby Garland (1989) is the director of sales at Scan Design, the largest contemporary furniture retailer in Florida. Garland has previously held positions at Rose Furniture in High Point; Whelan’s Furniture in Savannah, Georgia; Carl’s Furniture in Coconut Creek, Florida; and Sklar Furnishings in Boca Raton, Florida. Garland says he knows his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from HPU have helped him be successful throughout his career. Tom Joseph (1990) is the managing director for Grant Thornton LLP’s Financial Services Advisory practice, based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Joseph has nearly 25 years of experience in enhancing business models, growth strategies, cross-functional enterprise business integration, sales and business development and leading new business startups in large Fortune 100 companies. Amy Nail (1990) is the executive director of instructional and student services for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools in North Carolina. Nail, who previously worked with Stokes County Schools for nearly 25 years, received her bachelor’s degree from HPU and is currently completing her doctorate in educational leadership through the university. Mary O’Keeffe (1992) is the director of sales for The American Home Furnishings Alliance in High Point. She graduated from HPU with a bachelor’s degree in industrial/organization psychology. Jonathan “Fox” Simons Jr. (1993) is the assistant city manager of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.