Members of Atkins High class celebrate 60-years of life SPECIAL TO THE C HRONICLE . A happy 60th birthday cel , ebration rang out at the Ivy Arms Center on 2nd Street. It was held on June 26 for the Atkins High School Class of 1965. Approximately 30 of the b. classmates tellow shipped by J talking <$out old times, shar " ing pictures and class annuals. - playing games, lots of music and food! Most have already turned 60 years old or will be in a few months. Cameras flashed through out the evening. The DJ was Danny Ijames. He played the ^ oldies but goodies. The food Members of the class in their party hats. I CXas* st fe3 t .1 I was catered by beloved class mate Connie Fletcher and family. Everyone wore a birthday hat and gathered around the beautiful cake with 60 candles and blew them out. It was a very exciting and enjoyable evening. Members came from far and near for the occasion from places such as Oklahoma. Georgia and North Carolina The celebration ended on Sunday with a breakfast, catered by Ossie Hairston Catering and a church service at the First Baptist Church on Highland Avenue. The committee members did a wonderful job putting the event together, Members expressed gratitude for Lois Hanes Young, George (Choppy) Johnson, Shirley Peoples Bishop and Alberta Hayden Mickens. After hugs and farewells to one another, it was off to their separate ways until they meet again in the future. {"Friends" reunite to raise money *" SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE The Friends of the School of Education at N.C. A&T State University, a 20 year-old support organiza ? tion recently reactivated by J Dean Lelia L. Vickers, has t launched a campaign to t raise funds for student p scholarships in time for the ? opening of the new School ' of Education building. Z Mary Purnell, an A&T Z graduate and retired official I with the state Department of ? Public Instruction in 5 Raleigh, serves as chair ~r woman of the Friends of the ! School of Education, which | is made up of alumni, | retired and active faculty | metnbers and administra te tors, community supporters ! and public schools person | nel. [ The group's purpose is J "to support and strengthen J. the School of Education's ' mission of developing E teachers and other school personnel." Purnell says J she and other Friends are J keenly aware of the nation's J shortage of teachers and the J role A&T plays in address ? ing that shortage. "Having been in educa [ tion all my life and knowing J the need for good teachers , 1 1 think the Friends have an ? obligation to do all we can ? to ensure that the state pro ' vides students the best edu ? cation they can get and the ' best teachers we can find," i she said. ? The Friends are continu A&T Phcrto Friends of the School of Education members, Dr. Myrtle Sampson, first row, from left, Mary Purnell, Dr. Jesse Marshall, Dean Lelia Vickers; (mid dle row, from left) Dr. Mel Swann, Dr. Miriam Wagner, Linnie B. Foster, Margaret Foskey, Mary Peek, Dr. Charles Hayes, Dr. Vivian Barnette; (back row, from left) Dian Williams, Dr. James Battle, Dr. Fred Wood, Dr. Larry Powers, Dr. Morris Peterkin, Dr. Stephen McCary-Henderson and Dr. Patricia Whitfield. Not pictured: Dr. Dorothy Barnett, Dr. Isaac Barnett, Dr. Velma Speight-Buford, Sharon Hoard, Dr. Walthea Cobitz, Dr. Katie Dorsett, Nelda Bynum, Dr. Karen Guy, Walker Sanders, Faye Sharpe, Georgia Williams and Michael Fleming. ing the work envisioned by the administrators who initi ated the organization in 1987: raising money for scholarships. The early success was due to the work of individ ual members such as Sampson. Dr. Vivian Harding Hampton, the late Ann Kornegay, Georgia Williams, who was the first recording secretary, and for mer Greensboro Mayor Carson Bain, who was the group's first treasurer. Other early members included the late Coach Bert Piggot and faculty members B. W. Harris, who presented plans for the first fundraiser, and J. Niel Armstrong, who was the group's first chairper son. The Friends awarded numerous scholarships ranging up to $1,000, depending on funds avail able. to students chosen based on criteria including financial need, personal motivation and GPA. Among the early high lights of the Friends history was a $20,000 gift that Greensboro businessman Michael B. Fleming made in honor of his late housekeep er, Emma Wilson, a long time member and soloist in the choir at Greensboro's Bethel AME Church. Although the Friends as an organization became inactive between deans, the generosity of "friends" such as Fleming has continued to play an important role in providing support for the School . The group's fundraising plan is to use many avenues, Purnell says. Among these are soliciting pledges from Friends members, direct mail appeals to alumni, businesses and School of Education faculty, selling bricks for a memorial wall or walk at the new building, and a resumption of Friends fundraising banquets. The organization hopes to attract more supportive alumni, retirees and other allies to become official members, and invites all who are able to do so to contribute to the campaign. Some generous pledges already have been received from current Friends mem bers, including $25,000 from Sampson, more than $15,000 more from Fleming and $10,000 from Purnell. For information about joining the Friends of the School of Education at North Carolina A&T, con tact Purnell at 336-272 2795. Contributions can be sent to the NC A&T Foundation, 200 N. Benbow Rd., Greensboro, NC 27411 . Donors should make checks payable to . he NC A&T Foundation and write "Friends-The School of Education" in the memo line. Johnson from page B14 i old men in funny clothes do on television. ! Their attitudes about golf eventually change, the ! coaches say. Some develop a passion for the I sport that extends beyond the summer and the ; clinic. Kierra Brown is a case in point. The 1 2-year i old has been attending the clinic each summer for the past four years . She had never played golf f before then. Now it is something that she does ? n't want to live without. I "It is my second favorite sport," said Brown, just be at home relaxing, but he still cares about ? us," she said. ? ? Even Johnson would concede that relaxing * would not be a bad idea, especially on days like 1 Tuesday when the temperature was above 90 degrees. He has had his share of health problems over the years and doesn't get around the golf ! course as effortlessly as he once did. But the ! resilient Johnson has no plans to end his clinic or J pass it along to someone else. J "These kids energize me," he said. "And 1 they need to know that somebody cares about i them and their future." u . ? v t;, ,/ww* x?^Tirw??af? Tr O M M V N I T Y >J**NOft1H C A HO I IMA r One in a Thousand '? Leadership W inston-Salem has inspired in me a renewed interest and commitment for making our community one that future generations can he proud to call home " Mr. John W. Lucas Deputy Fire Chief. City of Winston-Salem Fire Dept. Leadership Winston-Salem. Class of 2007 ( Slnct 1984, Leadership Winston Salem has provided a foundation of information and inspiration for more than 1000 leaders in Forsyth County. There's no better way to focus your passion and form the connections to make a positive difference In our community than to participate in this life-changing program. Leadership Winston-Salem is accepting nominations and applications for the Class of 2008 now. For more information, call 723-1002 or visit www.leadershipws.org. Don't wait! Application deadline is July 31". , ( }0 To educate. wrmect and , ? enerjfue leaders to serve ^ ' and improve theTcommmily ( j