The Sampson High School Alumni Association Inc. celebrated its 54th annual reunion Aug. 7-9, bringing alumni, supporters and former scholarship recipients together for a weekend that, organizers said, demonstrated the lasting impact of investing in young people.
Hosted by the Triangle Chapter under the theme “Keeping the Torch Burning for the Next Generation,” the reunion provided an opportunity not only to reconnect and fellowship, but also to reflect on SHSAA’s legacy and look toward its future.
One of the weekend’s most significant highlights was the participation of approximately 16 former SHSAA scholarship recipients. Alumni members said their presence illustrated how investments made decades ago continue to produce dividends today.
That impact is especially visible in the association’s current leadership. Several former scholarship recipients now serve the organization that once invested in them, including President Dr. Angela Davis-McCoy, a 1980 scholarship recipient; Vice President Rhonda Elmore, a 1989 recipient; Treasurer Stephanie Faison, a 1984 recipient; Recording Secretary Judy Kea, a 1980 recipient; Corresponding Secretary Azalea Oates Albritton, a 1981 recipient; National Chaplain Terria Goodman-Mayo, a 1996 recipient; and Audit Committee Chair Reginald Chestnutt, a 1980 recipient.
During Saturday’s business meeting, Davis-McCoy emphasized the importance of working together toward a common goal, communicating effectively and meeting organizational commitments. The reunion marked the conclusion of the leadership team’s first year serving the organization.
The impact of SHSAA’s scholarship program was also reflected in the professional accomplishments of the former recipients in attendance. Over the years, scholarship recipients have gone on to careers in education, law, information technology, science, pharmaceuticals, real estate, social work and other professions.
Among those returning for the reunion was Larry Peterson, SHSAA’s first scholarship recipient, who received his award in 1974 and went on to become a mathematics professor before retiring. Peterson offered words of encouragement to current and former scholars.
The featured speaker was Julian Gilyard, a 2012 SHSAA scholarship recipient who now serves as managing director and deputy head of USD Linear Rates Trading at Société Générale.
Gilyard challenged current and former scholars to recognize the significance of the investment others made in them and to help organizations such as SHSAA continue to sustain, grow and prosper. His message centered on gratitude, perseverance and responsibility to those who follow.
A special networking session made possible by the initiative of Geraldine Boone and Joselyn Frizzell gave former scholarship recipients an opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss how they can become more engaged in SHSAA’s future. The conversations generated ideas for strengthening the connection between SHSAA and the generations of students who have benefited from its scholarship program.
For an organization founded by alumni determined to preserve the legacy of Sampson High School while creating opportunities for future generations, that engagement represents an important next chapter, members noted.
Although the physical Sampson High School building is no longer standing, the reunion demonstrated that the legacy created within its walls remains very much alive.
The weekend concluded Sunday morning with attendees joining the host chapter for worship and fellowship at Watts Chapel in Raleigh.
The 54th annual reunion served as both a celebration of SHSAA’s history and a reminder of what is possible when one generation chooses to invest in another. Former scholarship recipients are now helping lead, support and strengthen the organization that once believed in their potential, members noted.
More than five decades later, the return on that investment is still being revealed — and the torch continues to burn for the next generation, they said.