Article by Michael Gaspeny

By Michael Gaspeny Chronicle co-adviser
Here's what sweating deadlines for the Campus Chronicle has helped former staffers to achieve.

Media: After teaching grade school in Nicaragua and Honduras, Gena Smith is combining her mastery of Spanish and her writing skill as a reporter covering the Hispanic community for the daily paper in Lumberton, the Robesonian... Former editor-in-chief Andrea Griffith is an assistant editor for Our State magazine, which focuses on North Carolina and has become one of the most successful publications of its kind in America... Pam Holley, employed by Carson-Dellosa Publishing in Greensboro, fulfilled a longstanding dream this summer: She launched her own magazine, Faithful Sister, which concentrates on issues of interest to young African-American women... While pursuing a doctorate in communications at UNC-CH, Justin Martin is publishing dispatches from the Middle East in such papers as The Baltimore Sun and the (Greensboro) News & Record... Jocelyn Paza wakes at 3 a.m. each day to prepare for her role as the radio personality Josie on the WKZL morning show from Winston-Salem... As a sportswriter for The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer, Mike Graff is receiving national attention. The Associated Press has honored Mike as a top 10 finalist for his feature on a collegiate cross country runner who was struck by a car. In addition, his piece about an impoverished mom and daughter chasing the daughter's dream of becoming a Golden Gloves boxing champion was chosen as the top sports feature of last year among the biggest papers in the state by the North Carolina Press Association. Mike, who grew up in Indian Head, Md., recently covered the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for his hero, Baltimore Oriole great Cal Ripken. Mike's a former editor-in-chief of the Chronicle... After eight years as a reporter, Heidi Coryell is the editor of two semi-annual custom magazines, Resort Living and Club Living... As managing editor of The Culpeper (Va.) Star Exponent, the fastest-growing daily in America, Rob Humphreys has been elected to the board of directors for the Associated Press Managing Editors. A story about the last lynching in Culpeper catapulted Humphreys to the board. "We literally rewrote the history books and corrected several errors in our original stories from 1918," writes Rob, a former editor-in-chief of the Chronicle.

Education: Last year's editor-in-chief Amanda Roberts is pursuing a master's in history at George Mason University. Last year's a&e editor and resident bibliophile Rebecca Fleming is working toward her master's of library science from East Carolina University via distance education. She will also be serving as part-time administrative assistant in the HPU History Department this fall... Briana Warner had a sparkling first year in the master of science in journalism program at West Virginia University. Working as a graduate assistant to the dean of the journalism school, she gained grant money for a radio news show in an area that previously lacked a media outlet. This summer she has been living on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as an intern with an international public relations firm, GolinHarris... Kathleen McLean, who received a master's in public history from Duquesne University, has become the boatswain's mate on the U.S.S. Constellation. Her job involves "being dressed up in character, working with visitors and doing historical interpretation." Kelly Gilfillan, who lives in Laurinburg, is the sole English teacher for the Scotland High School of Business, Finance, and Marketing in Scotland County. The school is underwritten by the Bill and Melissa Gates Foundation.

Business: Former editor-in-chief Brent Ayers is a curriculum developer in Greensboro for Gilbarco Veeder-Root, the largest supplier of fueling and tank monitoring equipment in the world. As an employee trainer, Brent is "striving to bring real-life simulation to online and animated content." He adds, "I look forward to the day when I overhear people saying, 'You should really take that module. It was so cool.'"... After covering the Supreme Court's business decisions for the interactive edition of The Wall Street Journal, Clint Barkdoll, the Chronicle's first editor-in-chief, practices law in Waynesboro, Pa. He has argued a case before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Alumni Highlights
Jay Shurling Vice President Baseline Licensing Group
Jay graduated from HPU in 1991 with a B.A. in English with a concentration in Media Studies and Writing. He has worked at WCTI-TV 12 in New Bern, N.C., as a weekend sports anchor/reporter. In 1995, he went to work at WGHP-TV in High Point, N.C., as a sports anchor/reporter. He was promoted later to the Morning News team as a live sports presence for that news cast. Jay ended his tenure at WGHP in the fall of 2001 and, together with Brown Councill, developed the idea of introducing furniture into motorsports. Racing Furniture was created in 2002, with Councill's furniture background and Shurling's sports and racing knowledge. In 2005, Councill and Shurling merged with Red Barnes and Gary Roberson of Baseline Sports to create Baseline Licensing Group, which now holds licensing with the NFL, NBA, Collegiate Licensing Corp., NASCAR, Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Gordon Licensing, Richard Childress Racing and Evernham Motorsports. Jay can be contacted at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 757-217-1859 - direct line

Heidi Coryell Williams Associate Editor Publishing Division, IMI Resort Holdings Heidi's job includes overseeing the day-to-day writing, editing and management duties of two semi-annual custom publications -- Resort Living and Club Living magazines. Resort Living is currently sold at bookstores throughout the nation, including Barnes & Noble, Walden Books and BDalton Books. Prior to joining IMI, Heidi spent more than eight years working as a staff writer at newspapers throughout the Southeast, including North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Her work has been recognized by press associations in all three states. She is a 1998 graduate of High Point University's English/Writing program. During her tenure at HPU, Heidi served as a staff writer and news editor for the Campus Chronicle. A native of northern Virginia, she now makes her home in the college town of Clemson, S.C., where she lives with her husband, Larry, who is a sportswriter for The Charleston Post & Courier newspaper. Heidi can be contacted at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Paul J. Lessard Executive Director High Point Community Foundation Paul earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and History at High Point University, where he attended on a soccer scholarship. He earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in Communications from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
HPCF is a community foundation that helps citizens of the Greater High Point Community achieve their philanthropic goals by providing fund management, legal and accounting services, and assistance in finding worthwhile nonprofit projects in which to invest. The foundation is also responsible for an annual Grants Program that, in the past five years, has redistributed $750,000 back into the community in unrestricted grants and $3.6 million in Donor Advised funds.

Paul is also the founder and director of the Lighthouse Project, a foundation that he established in 1994 with a monetary stipend that accompanied the Carnegie Hero Medal he was awarded for saving an elderly woman who was drowning in a submerged car. Since 1994, the Lighthouse Project has partnered with the Guilford County Schools Character Education Program to bring in nationally known role models who have spoken to and mentored more than 300,000 students about character and values.
Paul can be contacted at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Andrea Spencer Writer Andrea has advanced as a marketing professional over the past 11 years. In every position she has taken, Andrea has looked for an opportunity to write. Her first job was with the Center for Creative Leadership. Though she was hired as an account manager and not a writer, she hounded the marketing director on a regular basis and was eventually asked to write a piece for their newsletter. After two years, she left CCL for positions as an account executive with Pascale & Associates Advertising and Design and as an account manager/copywriter for ELS Marketing.
In 2001, Andrea started a freelance writing business (Propeller Copywriting and Concepting) to attract more writing opportunities. In 2003, she was hired as a copywriter and speechwriter for UNCG. She produces all of the messaging for the university's capital campaign and helps develop UNCG's brand image, enhancing its top-of-mind recall among the corporate sector, alumni circles and community groups.
Andrea has written for a variety of clients and virtually every medium, including the Web, printed collateral, magazines, radio, press releases, newsletters and direct mail. Her experience includes writing for higher education, pharmaceuticals, IT, health care, real estate, department store conglomerates, houseware manufacturers and home furnishings. She now works almost entirely from home while raising her 2-year-old daughter.
Andrea can be contacted at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jocelyn "Josie" Paza Radio Personality 107.5 WKZL The oldest of five kids, Jocelyn was raised in Hagerstown, Md., where she was always told she would become a lawyer because she could argue her way out of any situation. Instead of studying law, Jocelyn decided to follow her passion for writing and talking and discovered broadcasting her freshman year at HPU. Over the next three years, Jocelyn was sure she would explore a career in television. One day, Jocelyn ran into former English major Justin Wood, who told her about an opening for an intern at the "Murphy in the Morning Show" at WKZL. After working six hours a day at her internship, taking a full class load, and working at Ham's as a waitress, Jocelyn was offered a job on the morning show in 2002. Since that wonderful day when she signed a contract with WKZL, Jocelyn has met numerous celebrities (Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry, Sheryl Crow and John Mayer, to name a few), hosted several charity events for great organizations, and made many new friends in North Carolina. All of these perks make up for her 3 a.m. wakeup time every morning.
Josie can be contacted at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Andrea Griffith Assistant Editor Our State Magazine A 2005 summa cum laude graduate of HPU, Andrea Griffith is now an assistant editor for Our State magazine, a 74-year-old publication based in Greensboro that has more than 138,000 subscribers. Prior to her job at Our State, Andrea -- a West Virginia native -- worked as a community news reporter for the (Greensboro) News & Record. During her tenure at HPU, she served as editor-in-chief of the Campus Chronicle, performed in the Chapel Choir and was a university ambassador. At the end of her senior year, she received the University Award for Service and the English Department's Award for Excellence in Public Writing.
Andrea can be contacted at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .