Please Support Our Class Website in 2024.
Can you chip in today?
All contributions will be DOUBLED through March 31!
This photo can be changed by your Class Administrator.
This site is to be operated by members of our class.
We need a Class Administrator.
CLICK HERE TO
LEARN MORE OR TO VOLUNTEER
Page Hits: 1,362
Our Class Message Board
Your participation is requested!
We would like to hear from you. Post your messages here.
ADD NEW
VIEW ALL
Indicates an included photo
ADD NEW
VIEW ALL |
Today's Featured Biography
Sophia Marie Herrick
“Sophia is a mezzo-soprano skillfully mastering a lovely 3 octave range with a rich lower scale that speaks to your soul in a clear, sweet voice. Although classically trained she has a wonderful sultry approach to more commonly known songs in practically every genre of music from R & B , Soft Jazz, Rock and Pop to Country, and even mesmerizes with her ability to reincarnate the singers from the big band era. Watching and listening to her sing you would never guess that she has overcome so much and still suffers from any disability.”
I am a Stroke Survivor. This simple phrase has come to represent who I am and what I stand for today and this includes my new-found musical career as a vocalist. Over the last 14+ years I’ve been able to overcome complete paralysis and the inability to speak as well as understand the spoken word thanks to the wonderful advances in medicine, a LOT of a variety of therapies, the love and support of my family, and through the divine intervention and gifts of God himself. In the last seven years I have mastered the ability to walk again, although be it with the assistance of a cane these days. Finally, in the last five years I have been blessed with the return of my speaking and then singing voice. All these gifts I nurture daily and hope to share with all of you through my music.
As the former 2005-2006 Tampa Bay Stroke Hero, and then the 2005-2007 Florida/Puerto Rico Stroke Hero, I am compelled and feel obligated to speak about Stroke, teach about the warning signs of Stroke, and to encourage others to become involved in the fight to End Stroke. I'm thrilled that the American Stroke Association of Tampa Bay chose me to be a spokesperson. However, I'm more thrilled about all that they have accomplished in the last few years. The best being that Stroke is now considered a Medical Emergency and that there are now standards for hospitals to meet if they wish to be considered a Stroke Treatment Facility under the auspices of JCAHO. Thanks to educational materials from the AHA on Stroke I learned about what to expect, how to overcome my disabilities, and what services are available to me as a Stroke victim and survivor. As a vocalist I hope to spread my message even further.
Thanks to research and development funded by the AHA/ASA (such as botox to decrease my muscle spasms in my leg and arm so that I can walk better & I can use my left hand more with fewer tremors) I was able to become a member of the Tampa Bay Train to End Stroke team and trained to walk a 1/2 Marathon in January 2005 at Disney. Although this wonderful program is over there are other fundraising events for Stroke and I can still participate as a member of other teams. For more information on Stroke please go to www.strokeassociation.org .
On a brighter side, my life has become very active thanks to my having to deal with public relations through the auspices of the AHA and the ASA. First of all, I've returned to officiating Powerlifting and Olympic Weightlifting and am an International Referee for both in able-bodied, Paralympic and Special Olympics. For 3 years I served as the Chairman of the IWF Masters Weightlifting Program's Anti-Doping Program. This means that I get to do a lot of traveling, domestic and international; something I absolutely love.
Second, all those public speaking gigs on TV, radio, and at various events led to vast improvements in my speech. They also gave me the confidence to try singing again.
It was in 2005 that I joined one church choir at a parish in the southern part of Pinellas County. In 2006 I was asked to sing at two other Masses at an additional parish in the northern part of the county. Later in that same year I was asked to sing in a philanthropic Blues Band. Unfortunately, we broke-up a year or so later. Then after my success in some local singing competitions in 2008 I was asked to join a local Country & Western Band as their female lead singer. Unfortunately that band broke-up as well in 2009.
After that I decided that singing in someone else’s band was just not quite what I wanted to do. Instead it was time for me to venture out into the front spot light and try a solo career but first I needed to gain more stage experience and self-confidence. That’s when I decided to try my hand at a National Singing Competition via the Karaoke route. I was able to qualify for two different Regional competitions: 1) in April 2010 I won 5th place in the Women’s Country division at the Talent Quest Sunshine State Singing Competition; 2) and in July I won 9th place in the Women’s Pop division at the Talent Quest Florida Singing Competition. Both of these placements earned me the honor of competing at the Talent Quest Nationals that year in Laughlin, NV, which I did. I did really well and placed in the top 20 of the Nation. Desert weather doesn't suit me though and I came down with a wicked chest ailment that I couldn't shake until I hospitalized and given IV antibiotics the following February. Ugh!
In 2011 despite the pneumonia, a little set back with another mild stroke, my vocal plans are moving right along. I'm still traveling as I referee for the IPC and the IWF. I threw a wrench into my Christmas plans by having knee surgery between concerts in mid December. In the meantime, I've signed up for the World Karaoke Competition that was seen on TV this past season at the behest of friends and my vocal coaches so we will see how well I do. Wish me luck!
VIEW ALL BIOGRAPHIES
|
Family News Summary
Enter your Family News Item choosing from our pre-defined categories:
Anniversary, Award, Birth, Death, Diagnosis, Engagement, Graduation,
Lottery, Retirement, Vacation, Wedding, Other.
There is no Family News on file
at this time. |
ADD NEW
VIEW ALL
|
|
Classreport.org provides free Class Websites
for every graduating class of every high school
with free access for all.
We are one of the premier social networking sites dating back to 2003. We are a small,
family-owned business and yet freely host over a million class websites.
Our Story
Classreport holds a special place in the hearts of our users:
Bravos.
Class Support Status
|
OUR CLASS SITE IS FUNDED THROUGH
February 2024
This site is funded by our
Voluntary Contributions
Click Here to Chip In
|
Class Directory
|
Where in the world
are you? Stats
|
U.S. Armed Forces
|
Active and Veterans
Please update your profile to be
included in this section.
0 from Our Class
1 from Our School
|
|
Class Poll
|
There is no Active Poll
at this time. |
|
Featured Links
|
There are no Featured Links
at this time. |
|
Recent Reviews
|
There are no reviews on file
at this time.
This area is for comments on
books, movies, music,
restaurants, etc.
|
ADD NEW
VIEW ALL |
Recommended Recipes
|
There are no recipes on file
at this time.
|
ADD NEW
VIEW ALL |
Prayer Requests
|
There are no prayer requests
at this time.
|
|
ADD NEW
VIEW ALL |
Visit Other Classes
|
The Office
(Admin use only)
If you have any questions or comments
regarding this website, please contact:
Class Administrator
We Need a Volunteer
Would you like a sneak peek at a non-functioning view of The Office?
Admin
FAQ
|
This class reunion website is a complementary
addition to your existing alumni resources. It is a product of
Classreport, Inc. and may not be affiliated with Opelika High School or its alumni association.
Does your High School Class have a full-featured Alumni Website?
Start One Now!
(Or start one for your Mother, Father, Sister,
Brother, Spouse, Son, Daughter, Friend . . .)
"Just discovered your product today while trying to locate classmates ahead of our 50th reunion in 2020. The fact that you did this in a noncommercial manner in a world where everything has a price tag deserves recognition and respect, in my view.
Thank you and good luck in all your endeavors."
5/5/2018
"THANKYOU so much for handling this for us! We are so appreciative! It looks GREAT!"
5/2/2018
"Thank YOU for helping us get the word out! I've posted a link to the website on our FB group page and vigorously encouraged other classmates to contribute"
4/27/2018
"Your site is amazing. Kudos to you and your staff. You have benefitted so many high school alumni in organizing their class reunions."
10/4/2017
"Thanks to classreport.org our class website played a huge part in the success of our Reunion. We greatly appreciate your wonderful support."
10/3/2017
"Thanks for all your hard work and ingenious spirit."
9/25/2017
"Thanks guys, you are Good!!"
9/23/2017
"I love your service and will continue to support you."
9/14/2017
"We have been using the website for more than 10 years now. It's still the best website out there for classmates to meet, collect their info and advertise their reunions. Thanks for inventing it all!"
9/11/2017
"Thank you for your assistance. It was very helpful. Looks good!"
9/5/2017
More bravos at:
www.classreport.org/bravos
21th Anniversary!
There are no fees required for participation on this site.
Please support this site with your voluntary contributions.
We cannot provide this service without your support. Thank You!
Please read Our Story
ClassTraQ 11.003 Software Copyright � 2003 - 2017
Classreport, Inc. All Rights Reserved e0
amsc: 1
|
|
|