HPU Spring 2018 Magazine

2018

High Point University THE PREMIER LIFE SKILLS UNIVERSITY

TRANSFORMATION HPU’s growth serves as the catalyst for revitalization in the city of High Point.

THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE

GOD, FAMILY, COUNTRY

Equipped with life skills, HPU graduates are prepared to thrive.

HPU’s patriotism shines through on Veterans Day.

Life Skills (n): Capabilities that outlast and extend beyond technical skills, but allow one to communicate, build relationships, continuously grow and thrive in competitive environments.

Adaptation amidst rapid change. Understanding that to work harder, one must work smarter. Navigating complex situations without being intimidated by life’s obstacles. What employers want in new hires.

High Point University Magazine

High Point University Board Leadership

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Board of Trustees John L. Finch, Chairman Dr. Robert J. Brown, Vice Chairman

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Board of Visitors A.B. Henley, Chairman Alumni Board Jason Walters (’05), President Panther Club Jamie Amos, President SEND QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT HPU MAGAZINE TO: Pam Haynes, Director of Media Relations High Point University One University Parkway High Point, NC 27268 USA 336-841-9055 phaynes@highpoint.edu SEND INFORMATION FOR CLASS NOTES AND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: Office of Institutional Advancement High Point University One University Parkway High Point, NC 27268 USA recordupdates@highpoint.edu 336-841-9696 High Point University website: highpoint.edu Facebook.com/HighPointU Twitter.com/HighPointU Instagram.com/HighPointU HPU Magazine is published for alumni, parents and friends of High Point University.

EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATION On the Right Track: Success Coaches Help Students Find Their Passion

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INSPIRING ENVIRONMENT The Art of the Possible: Graduates Gain Life Skills that Help Them Thrive

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CARING PEOPLE Community Clinic: A “Triple Win” for High Point

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Numbers to know: Admissions: 800-345-6993 Campus Concierge: 336-841-4636 Alumni Engagement: 336-841-9548 Family Engagement: 336-841-9641 Athletics: 336-841-9281 Security: 336-841-9112

On the cover: High Point University is a transformational institution. As HPU President Nido Qubein says, “How we change is how we succeed. How we transform is how we ensure our future is filled with success and framed with significance.” It’s true the campus has experienced phenomenal growth. But the real transformation takes place within the hearts and minds of students. Just as a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, students arrive as eager freshmen but graduate as professional adults prepared to thrive in a complex world. In between, they learn to embrace every moment as an opportunity for growth.

THE PREMIER LIFE SKILLS UNIVERSITY A college education should not only focus on the attainment of a diploma.

An extraordinary, holistic education should be about professional development and personal transformation, too.

At High Point University, we don’t focus on the “product”— the diploma.

We focus on the product of the product — a life filled with meaningful success framed with purposeful significance. Educating the mind without educating the heart and soul is no education at all.

President Nido R. Qubein

I ask our students, “What good is it to be an expert in an academic subject if you aren’t able to connect and communicate with others who may not share your same knowledge base?” In other words, success comes from much more than earned knowledge. Sustainable success comes from owning a strong work ethic, a growth mindset, the ability to connect with others, collaborate and build bridges of understanding. At HPU, we refer to these characteristics as life skills.

Even Google, a company that attracts some of the most brilliant analytical minds in the world, recognizes that life skills are the most valuable traits of their workforce (Google’s Top Characteristics of Success — 2013).

HPU understands this with clarity and conviction. We are focused on preparing students for the world as it is going to be.

Not the world as it is.

THE “FIGURE IT OUT” WORLD If you own a business, lead people or work in a team environment, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Yet, the marketplace commonly views many recent college graduates as poorly prepared and out of touch. Modern commerce demands employees and

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leaders who are equipped to “figure it out.” Connecting the dots of theories, business plans, and, certainly, people.

Students need context in life if they are to thrive as they exit the hallowed halls of the academy and enter the vast global economy. Communication skills, relational capital and an attitude of adaptability will take them far in life.

Couple that with a solid understanding of their core discipline and you have a person ready to think entrepreneurially and add value to any organization.

MENTORSHIP MATTERS We are intentional in our efforts to help transform students from the inside out. And it starts in my course for all freshmen — The President’s Seminar on Life Skills. But it doesn’t stop there. At HPU, student transformation is cultivated through meticulous mentorship efforts that are rooted in guidance by caring success coaches and learned faculty. And we see student transformation blossom through unique experiences that include access to innovators like Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak, who serves as HPU’s Innovator in Residence, and Netflix Co-Founder Marc Randolph, who serves as HPU’s Entrepreneur in Residence.

Face-to-face mentorship at HPU is impactful and plentiful. Yet, we are committed to always creating more opportunities, more experiences and more wisdom to be shared with our students. We’ve expanded the “In Residence” program to a digital scale through an innovative partnership with Radiate, Inc. — a professional development and executive coaching site featuring top CEOs and global leaders who share advice. They include the CEOs from legacy organizations like Delta Airlines, UPS and Honeywell. But they also feature executive leadership from enterprising new companies like Chobani, Peloton and Tommy John, among many others. HPU students enjoy complimentary access to this site, furthering their life skills development and exposing them to the mindset of their future employers. And we are the first university to do it. In fact, Betty Liu, the CEO of Radiate, Inc. and Bloomberg TV anchor, serves as HPU’s Media Entrepreneur in Residence. We want our students to learn from many sources and appreciate that every moment is an opportunity to grow.

A CAMPUS OF TRADITION AND TRAJECTORY Families and visitors often tell us how impressed they are with our campus and teaching facilities. Many remark that our buildings look beautiful and stimulating. Still others marvel at our expansion of academic programs, graduate school offerings and doctoral programs. But beyond the brick and mortar, students are surrounded by values rooted in a 94-year-old institution established by the United Methodist Church and the city of High Point. It’s true — HPU is a God, family, and country institution. Values are important to us. Generosity, gratitude, service and patriotism, among others, are cherished here.

But more importantly, they are modeled here.

You can’t teach values. So I remind faculty

and staff that we live, students watch, and students learn.

The secret to our values-based culture is that everyone who works at HPU understands they play an important part in the growth, development and transformation of our students. They understand that their role matters. I’m blessed to receive letters and emails from students, parents and alumni each week. And I’m grateful that health service workers like Dr. Marnie Marlette (page 71) and hospitality servers like Christian Froelich (page 70) are frequently recognized for their contributions to a student’s success.

CHOOSE TO BE EXTRAORDINARY Please take a moment to consider what I just explained: Our entire staff is empowered and committed to making a difference. And our students learn, through experience, what it means to be helped, encouraged and coached. They then share their gratitude for understanding how to treat others by contributing more than 100,000 hours of service annually in the city of High Point. This is what our call to action is all about: Choose to be extraordinary!

High Point University understands how we can help transform a student’s life because we have transformed and continue to transform a university. We have transformed a culture. We are even helping to transform the city of High Point (See the insert between pages 16 and 17). Our students and families recognize we aren’t merely educating here. We are taking this transformational journey together.

I invite you to come see it for yourself.

Sincerely, Nido Qubein nqubein@highpoint.edu

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EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATION

HPU focuses on holistic education — the transformation of the entire individual.

Life skills are consistently what employers say they value most when hiring. At HPU, beginning with all freshmen who take the President’s Seminar on Life Skills, students are surrounded by programs and people that help them compress time, allowing them to transform into deeply aware individuals who are able to communicate, collaborate and connect in a rapidly changing global marketplace.

For example, HPU provides a complimentary subscription to the RadiateInc.com platform to students. The app is much like Netflix for career development — it allows them to glean wisdom from professionals and industry leaders from the convenience of their phone. Not only this, but students get the opportunity to interact with Betty Liu, a Bloomberg anchor and founder of Radiate who serves as HPU’s Media Entrepreneur in Residence. Liu is pictured here during a recent visit to campus, when she shared her experience as an international journalist and communicator with students in a questionand-answer session with HPU President Nido Qubein. This is one of many opportunities for students to learn from distinguished leaders.

Discover more throughout this magazine.

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ON THE RIGHT TRACK: Success Coaches Help Students Find their Passion

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When Ross Pavlovich headed south from his New England hometown of Marblehead, Massachusetts, to High Point University in 2014, he wasn’t really sure what he wanted to do with his life. He was nervous but excited to begin his college career. Pavlovich hadn’t yet selected his major, and he hoped he’d find his passion once he began.

“I liked science a lot in high school because it was hands on, so I thought I’d lean toward going into the pharmacy program,” says Pavlovich, now a senior majoring in marketing with a minor in sales. “Half a semester of chemistry made me realize a science major wasn’t for me, and I was back to square one.”

It’s common nationwide for freshmen to not immediately know what they want to study. Fortunately, for every freshman at HPU, there is a mentor ready to help. This team of coaches helps students not only transition into college life, but also helps them find their way. And their passion.

For Pavlovich, that guidance came in the form of success coach Emily Long.

While many success coaches help freshmen in specific majors, Long assists undeclared students.

people and she wanted to help people. She loved psychology, but as for a specific career, “I had no clue,” she adds. “There were two primary factors that led me to confidently declare my major. First, I grasped the concept that you need to love what you’re learning. When you’re spending three or four years taking classes in your major, you need to enjoy them — at least most of them. If you don’t love the classes you’re taking for your major, you’re not going to have passion and purpose in it. Secondly, I realized that while a major is important, soft skills — what HPU calls life skills — triumph.

I knew that cultivating my skills in critical thinking, communication, collaboration and real-world application of knowledge would prepare me for a multitude of careers.”

She uses her own experience to guide her students at HPU. “I keep these lessons in mind as I encourage them to pursue their passions while also developing employability through experiences and challenges,” Long says.

All freshmen benefit from the mentorship of a success coach.

“When Ross struggled in his science course his first semester, we discussed his options,” Long says. “Ross worked very hard in his science class and utilized tutoring, but was still struggling.

He then made a pivotal statement: He wasn’t even passionate about biology — a major he had been considering. He was actually interested in business.”

Cue the light bulb. “Emily helped me discover my passion for business — specifically marketing and sales,” Pavlovich says.

“She suggested I register for a business communications class, as well as a few general education classes so that I could determine what I liked studying.”

It’s a story Long knows all too well. “As a formerly undeclared student myself, I understand how overwhelming it can seem to have to figure out what your life is going to hold after college,” she says. “What I came to realize is that when choosing a major, you don’t necessarily have to know what your first job after college is going to be — or even what your career is going to be.”

When she declared psychology as her major her sophomore year in college, Long knew she didn’t want to be a psychologist. But she did know she wanted to understand

They’re lessons that have also been valuable to senior Erika LarussoEvans, a New Jersey native majoring in human relations with a minor in communications. “Emily was always so easy to talk to — and she didn’t treat me like a child. She was kind, yet she never sugar coated anything. She listened when I needed advice, then told me what she thought would be best — and she explained her reasoning. Her door was always open.”

That relationship became especially vital when LarussoEvans considered changing her initial plan. “I always wanted to be a nurse or work in the medical field, and I was majoring in biology with the hopes of getting into the physician assistant program,” she says. “Then second semester of my sophomore year, I changed my major to human relations. … Emily made me realize that I just needed to give it a chance. No matter how busy she’s been, she always found time for me.”

Now, as Pavlovich and Larusso-Evans prepare to graduate in May 2018, they both feel ready to start their careers. LarussoEvans has plans to work in a human relations department in a hospital setting or a pharmaceutical company.

Pavlovich says he has several prospects for a future career in sales. “I’m in contact with several companies, and I feel like I’m in a great position to have a job offer by the time I graduate,” he adds. ▲

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PREPARING GRADUATES FOR THE

WORLD AS IT WILL BE

HPU graduates spend four years amassing the life skills employers want in new hires Leah Pieniadz, ’17, remembers the moment she knew she was ready.

Career ready. Life ready. Opportunities welcome.

It happened inside Cottrell Hall, High Point University’s hub for career and professional development, where employers from Big Four accounting firms lined up to meet students, schedule interviews and find future team members.

For months, Pieniadz worked with advisors from the Career and Professional Development team.

She’d practiced interview questions and knew how to dress, shake hands and communicate the value of her skill sets. She’d built confidence through her coursework and the faculty who challenged her to grow.

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KPMG, one of the nation’s largest tax firms, noticed.

The company offered Pieniadz an interview, then an internship in Manhattan the summer after her junior year.

She took it and made a positive impression, so much so that KPMG offered her full-time employment in the same Manhattan office when she graduated in 2017.

“Thinking back on my time at HPU, that ‘Meet the Firms’ event was one of my most impactful moments,” says Pieniadz, now an audit associate in New York. “I dreamed of having the opportunity to work for a Big Four accounting firm, and with the help of this event, I was able to talk with current employees who provided an honest perspective on their career.

“As it turned out, moving to Manhattan that summer was one of the best experiences of my life, and I was ready to move back after graduation to begin my career there.”

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Employment & Grad School Placement

within six months of graduation Data from the Class of 2017. High Point University follows the National Association of Colleges and Employers first destination reporting protocols.

The Premier Life Skills University Pieniadz is part of a compelling HPU statistic.

Ninety-six percent of graduates begin their careers or go on to graduate school within six months of completing their HPU education.

But her story is about more than a statistic. Like all graduates, she benefited from HPU’s focus on life skills, a mission the entire campus shares.

Students begin to understand this early in their academic career when they learn from HPU President Nido Qubein, who teaches the President’s Seminar on Life Skills for all freshmen.

Qubein is a product of the American dream. He came to the United States from the Middle East and built his business career from the ground up. He helped start a bank and became an internationally sought-after speaker and business consultant.

In his class, he focuses on what the world calls “soft skills,” but what HPU calls life skills.

Acing a job interview over dinner, for example, is a crucial life skill when employers report that taking candidates to restaurants is one of the most revealing parts of the hiring process.

Financial literacy, team work, emotional intelligence and delivering persuasive presentations are all parts of the course, too.

It opens the doors to career preparation for new students as soon as they arrive.

“When graduation nears, people will say to you, ‘Now you’re going into the real world,’” Qubein tells students in the course. “But the truth is that the real world is the path you’ll travel on this campus for four years. The real world is the one you’ll create for yourself. The real world is the pathway that you’ll light for your own life and the roadways you’ll pave for your own future. That’s the real world.”

From Entry Level to Executive Suite Faculty and staff are a mix of industry leaders and impactful researchers. They include a former NBC Today Show director, former award-winning sales professionals, angel investors, lobbyists, authors, journalists, analysts, health care providers, business owners, prosecutors and executives.

They know well the careers students are eager to launch, and they know the networks to navigate. That shines through in the experiential opportunities they create.

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Like Dr. Bill Gentry, HPU’s director of Career and Professional Development. Gentry is a leading researcher in the field of leadership development, focusing specifically on young, emerging leaders.

Graduates credit faculty and staff as their heroes and mentors who helped them not only identify the right career, but lead a meaningful life. That’s a major goal for Gentry and his team.

Before joining the university, he worked at the Center for Creative Leadership, a global provider of executive education and leadership development.

“We don’t just help our graduates stand out from the competition, but we empower them to get a high quality job and equip them with leadership skills,” he says. “They know from day one that their employer is watching them to see if they are potential leaders. If we can teach them how to be leaders and show them the process of how to better their organization before they graduate, they will advance faster because we know that’s what employers want. They need boundary spanning employees who can communicate, have empathy and coach others.

Today, he leads career advisors inside Cottrell Hall, where other support teams encircle the glass lobby, making opportunities easily visible to students. That includes Career and Professional Development, the Office of Global Education and the Harris Sales Center. Upstairs, there’s the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Works, the Belk Entrepreneurship Center, and the Mestdagh Creative Commons.

The Office of Career and Professional Development provides one-on-one counseling with students, delivers presentations to classes and hosts major events that bring employers to campus or take students to employers.

Take HPU’s Life Skills and Leadership Development Program, for example. While traditional internships are increasingly valuable, this program gives students a 360-degree view of a company, from entry level positions to executive leadership roles.

The Life Skills and Leadership Development Program at Caffey Distributing launches this summer. The beverage distribution company interviewed HPU students on campus and selected final candidates. Those candidates will get a top-to-bottom look at how the business operates, from riding along on an early morning distribution route, to working alongside the company’s founder, Chris Caffey.

“We encourage students to come to Career and Professional Development early and often beginning their freshman year,” says Gentry. “For the freshman who hasn’t declared a major, they can take self-assessments to discover their strengths and interests. Then a strategic plan guides them through all four years.”

THAT’S ONE OF THE HPU DISTINCTIONS — STUDENTS PREPARE NOT ONLY TO LAUNCH THEIR CAREERS, BUT TO ADVANCE AS LEADERS. – Dr. Bill Gentry, Director of Career and Professional Development

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“That’s one of the HPU distinctions. Students prepare not only to launch their careers, but to advance as leaders.”

Accelerating Career Advancement Matt Tetu was in the first semester of his senior year when he got a phone call that solidified his future.

On the line was Jennifer Baird, a General Electric representative. She delivered the news HPU seniors work hard to get even before graduation.

“Matt, we’d love to have you join our team,” Baird told him.

It was the full-time, post-graduation job offer Tetu had been waiting for. And he’d traveled a winding path to get here.

“I started with business, switched to communication and switched back to business,” he says. “I added a sales minor and absolutely loved Professor Larry Quinn’s Sales in Dynamic Environments course. That’s when I knew I wanted to get real sales experience.”

So he scoured sales internships and was hired by Lochness Medical, Inc. His two-state territory covered Massachusetts and New Hampshire, his home state, and he zigzagged more than 20,000 miles that summer to sell diagnostic testing kits to doctors’ offices.

“I essentially cold-called doctors in person by walking into 10 to 12 medical offices daily, unannounced, and asking them for a few minutes of their time in their already busy day,” Tetu says. “It could be intimidating, but I learned how to problem solve, approach the office members and authentically sell the products. I knew if they didn’t like me, they would never like my products.”

By the end of the summer, Tetu landed the second largest intern sale in company history.

He returned to campus in the fall ready for the next challenge.

Quinn, chair of the sales and marketing department, had plenty waiting for Tetu.

Quinn is known for the amount of time he dedicates to working with students one-on-one, taking students to national selling competitions and attracting big employers to campus.

One of those employers is General Electric.

They’ve visited HPU for several years and hired past graduates like Sara Katherine Kirkpatrick, ’16, who was selected for one of just three slots in GE’s Healthcare Commercial Leadership Program. She’s completing a year of training in Milwaukee, and afterward, the program will place her in a role within the company that’s indicative of her strengths.

Now Tetu will join that program, too, and become part of a legacy of HPU alumni launching stellar careers as soon as they graduate. He’ll go to Milwaukee, undergo training and then find his place within the GE family, in any of three cities of his choosing.

Tetu and Pieniadz are two of many HPU graduates who secured their dreams early and increased their chances for future advancement. There are others, too, like Rebecca Ulrich, ’18, who’s been accepted and is choosing between Emory University, Stanford University and other top organic chemistry Ph.D. programs across the country.

Or Lauren Engler, ’13, a theater major living out her dreams of acting in the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company in Baltimore, Maryland.

When it comes to opportunities at HPU that prepare graduates for a significant life after college, students know there are many.

“I went to see different people on campus because each of them offered good advice,” Tetu says about the mentorship he received from Quinn, Career and Professional Development, his peers like Kirkpatrick and more. “I built solid relationships, practiced interview scenarios and wrote and re-wrote my resume and cover letters. All of it ended up being very helpful.

“If students get involved, join clubs, talk to their professors after class and take advantage of the one-on-one time professors and staff will spend with them, they will absolutely succeed.” ▲

CAMPUS-WIDE CAREER PREPARATION

Resources that equip graduates with life skills are abundant on campus.

Here’s a snapshot of tools that support students’ professional development.

1924 Prime According to the New York Times, employers say that taking a candidate to lunch or dinner is one of the most revealing and important parts of the hiring process. While some universities provide an etiquette class during a student’s senior year, HPU provides students with four years of career preparation inside 1924 Prime, a fine dining restaurant, where they can practice their interview skills weekly over complimentary dinner beginning their freshman year.

Radiate, Inc. Subscription RadiateInc.com is a leadership development tool that promotes the idea of continuous growth. The subscriber-based website offers executive leadership and coaching through quick and impactful videos featuring CEOs and thought leaders, including HPU President Nido Qubein.

Career and Internship Expo The Fall Career and Internship Expo brings dozens of employers to campus to meet and connect with HPU students for employment and internship opportunities. Companies in attendance include Lenovo, Volvo Group, Gartner, Ashley Furniture, Mutual of Omaha, Aerotek, Red Ventures and many others.

focus fairs In addition to Career Expos, focus fairs are held for students in specific majors seeking employment and internships. Major broadcasters and public relations firms come to campus to recruit communication majors, while the “Meet the Firms” event attracts major accounting firms to campus.

career Advising Students schedule one-on-one appointments with career advisors, who have expertise in honing resumes, interview questions, strength finding assessments, leadership development and much more.

Life Skills and Leadership Development Program Competitive programs take students beyond traditional internships by offering a 360-degree perspective of the company, from entry-level positions to learning from executive leadership.

alumni and parent networks The Office of Institutional Advancement and the Office of Career and Professional Development collaborate to find alumni and HPU parents interested in recruiting graduates and students for careers or internships. Alumni return to their alma mater to hire new team members, or parents at major companies provide career experiences for students in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and other major metropolitan areas.

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TRANSFORMATION:

ONE MAN. ONE UNIVERSITY. ONE CITY.

A MILLION HEARTS.

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“HE WANTS TO PASS THE BENEFIT OF OPPORTUNITY TO OTHERS.” – Bob Brown, Vice Chairman for the HPU Board of Trustees and a former advisor to Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and two U.S. Presidents

They all see High Point University through a different lens.

Students and alumni see the campus as a caring, safe place. Faculty members see the campus as a place of scholarship. Residents in the city of High Point see the campus as a memory-maker, a place to explore gardens, celebrate Christmas and hear global leaders and innovators talk about the why of life.

But HPU is the Premier Life Skills University, and its purple is also seen as green.

It’s High Point’s economic engine that generates $500 million every year for the city.

It’s the city’s philanthropic partner that donates money, provides volunteers, staffs nonprofit boards and spearheads various community service projects citywide.

It’s the place that helps those who struggle.

It’s the place that helps many to dream.

There’s no better example of HPU’s dream-big philosophy than the $135 million project planned a mile west of campus.

The pragmatic dreamer leading it all is an immigrant, a High Pointer, a man who came to the United States with nothing in his pocket and patterns his life after Luke 12:48, his favorite Bible verse: “To whom much is given, much is required.”

That is HPU President Dr. Nido Qubein.

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QUBEIN NAMED A TOP 100 INFLUENCER, DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN OF THE YEAR High Point University President Nido Qubein is one of North Carolina’s most influential leaders in the Power 100 NC Leaders list. The list includes CEOs of giant organizations like Bank of America, LabCorp, BB&T and SAS. The list, published by Business North Carolina, said this about President Qubein: “Stunning is a fair way to describe his impact as president of High Point University in 13 years tripling its size and building its national reputation. His latest project is to revive the city of High Point with a stadium, hotel, apartments, museum and conference center downtown…for which he has raised one-hundred million dollars.”

Qubein was also named the 2017 Distinguished Citizen of the Year by Business High Point — Chamber of Commerce. The award reflects his leadership at HPU and in the city’s downtown revitalization efforts.

During the last year, Qubein accepted a request from Forward High Point to lead major components

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of bringing a professional baseball team to a stadium in downtown High Point, as well as catalyst projects that would transform downtown into a destination point. He went on to raise $50 million in private gifts to support those projects, as well as another $50 million in commitments from Triad developers to build apartments and a hotel in the downtown area.

“Dr. Qubein is known to all of us by his significant accomplishments here in High Point, nationally and globally,” said David Congdon, executive chairman of Old Dominion Freight Line and chairman for Business High Point. “He is not only an incredible person who is faithful to his family, friends and colleagues, but he exemplifies the meaning of a visionary leader. He is constantly thinking about the future in creative and imaginative ways.”

A FACULTY MEMBER’S DISCOVERY A HUMBLE BEGINNING Qubein's story feels as quintessentially American as the Statue of Liberty.

Ask Dr. Carole Stoneking about High Point College, and she’ll mention the hall to nowhere.

Came to America at age 17. Arrived 7,000 miles from home with $50. Learned English on index cards. Attended North Carolina’s Mt. Olive Junior College where an elderly housemother helped him buy his first car and an anonymous local doctor assisted with his tuition.

Twenty-seven years ago, right after she started teaching religion, she walked into the old Fine Arts Center, rounded a corner and found a hall that just… stopped.

Transferred to then-High Point College.

Graduated in 1970, received a master’s degree from UNC-Greensboro, settled in High Point and began his first business with $500.

Married, raised a family and built six businesses. Helped start a local bank. Wrote 18 books on business, leadership and life, became a popular leadership speaker worldwide and joined High Point University’s Board of Trustees.

Left the world of business in 2005 after being approached to become the seventh president of High Point University, his alma mater.

After months of prayer, discussion and thought, he said yes.

The impact of that one decision is not lost on High Pointers.

Take Bob Brown, an HPU trustee and a former advisor to Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and two U.S. presidents.

A year ago, before Qubein spoke to a room full of local leaders, Brown introduced him and recalled the time decades ago when the poet Langston Hughes visited a local high school.

She asked about it, and she heard, “Oh, we ran out of money.”

Enter President Qubein.

In 2005, High Point University hired Dr. Nido Qubein as its seventh president, and he was different. He was an immigrant, an American citizen, a businessman, one of their own.

He graduated from High Point College in 1970, and he called High Point home. He set down roots, raised a family and started his career.

He wrote leadership books, built businesses, helped create a local bank and became one of the most in-demand speakers in the world.

Then, he came to HPU. Like many faculty, Stoneking wondered why. During his first faculty meeting, Qubein answered. He explained that he pondered the offer for three months. He prayed about it, talked to his family and walked the campus in reflection.

Then, he said yes.

“That gave me great hope,” Stoneking says today. “I got a sense this was his legacy.”

Stoneking is now dean of the David R. Hayworth College of Arts and Sciences, and everywhere she looks at HPU, she sees visible outcomes of Qubein’s leadership.

The campus has grown, academic options have increased, stellar faculty have come and the money invested in HPU has reached 10 digits.

Hughes read “Mother and Son,” his famous poem with the memorable line, “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.”

Meanwhile, students arrive from everywhere to be educated and mentored at a university recognized year after year for academic accomplishments that set it apart from its higher education peers.

Qubein, Brown said, knows that line personally.

All with the help of Qubein. But maybe his biggest gift?

Stoneking knows.

“Life for him has not been a crystal stair,” Brown told the audience. “But he wants to pass the benefit of opportunity to others.”

“People have learned to believe in themselves.”

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AN ALUMNA’S DISCOVERY Brittanie Joyner still sings “Great Day.” She first heard it as a freshman during the Life Skills Seminar taught

by HPU President Dr. Nido Qubein, and the tune by Eddie From Ohio soon became her theme song.

It still is at age 26.

The song’s message of faith and perseverance helped change her.

But so did HPU. “High Point University gave me the world,” Joyner says. “They said, ‘OK, Brittanie, where do you want to start?’ It’s what I learned from Dr. Qubein. He always said the only limit is what we place on ourselves.”

She didn’t always think like that.

She’s an only child and one of nine seniors who graduated from a private Christian high school in Alexandria, Virginia. She wasn’t sold on college.

Then, she visited HPU. Right away, she liked the school’s philosophy centered around “God, family and country.’’ Her dad was a retired Army sergeant, and her mom worked in the chaplain’s office at The Pentagon.

But moreover, she discovered an approachable university and a supportive faculty who she believed could help her become more outgoing, more of a leader, more of a person with an expansive, empathetic worldview way beyond her hometown.

Joyner feels that happened.

She studied abroad in Rome and southern Spain, volunteered in High Point, helped book events and campus concerts and worked as a University Ambassador taking prospective students around campus.

In 2014, Joyner graduated with a degree in strategic communication with a minor in theater, and later received a master’s degree from Wake Forest University in management.

She now works as an associate with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina in its direct sales department in Durham, North Carolina. She says she’s farther along in life than she ever expected to be at 26.

Why? “I went to HPU.”

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“HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY GAVE ME THE WORLD.” – Brittanie Joyner, '14, employed in Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina's Direct Sales Department

THE FIRST STEP There was a time when Dr. Dennis Carroll worried constantly.

It was late 2004. He was the dean of HPU’s School of Education, and he saw his school being left behind because its lack of technology, creativity and drive.

The more he worried, the more he asked himself, “Why am I here?”

He saw HPU, in his words, as a “sleepy little campus.” The liberal arts college drew 1,400 students — most from North Carolina — and they enrolled in a school that struggled to find the money needed to complete buildings and renovate dilapidated dorms.

What happened next?

“Dr. Qubein,” Carroll says.

In his first 29 days as president, Qubein raised $20 million. Then, in his first faculty and staff meeting, he vowed to transform his alma mater and brought out billboards that exclaimed, “Are you ready to travel to places you’ve never been?”

Dr. Dennis Carroll, Provost

Carroll watched from his seat in the back of the Hayworth Fine Arts Center.

HPU has achieved unprecedented growth since it began a major transformation in 2005. While significant milestones have been achieved in academics, as well as extensive growth in enrollment, infrastructure and campus facilities, the university has a bright future ahead. Expansion continues with these upcoming projects.

Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena, Conference Center and Hotel

The Board of Trustees proposed and unanimously voted to honor HPU President Nido Qubein and First Lady Mariana Qubein by naming the new facility for their family in appreciation of their $10 million gift and their unending commitment to HPU. The Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena, Conference Center and Hotel will become the home of HPU men’s and women’s basketball programs, as well as a venue for major ceremonial events, educational speakers, concerts, entertainment, other large gatherings and recreational activities. The Arena will seat 4,500 spectators and include suites, locker rooms, staff offices, concession stands, a merchandising area, media suite, film room, press conference room, weight room, athletic training room, hospitality area, high tech audio and video equipment, ticket office and practice gym. The Conference Center will provide event space for growing undergraduate and graduate programs,

student groups and community organizations.

It will seat up to 2,500 individuals and have the ability to be subdivided into smaller venues with lighting, sound and video for state-ofthe-art presentations. A fully operational catering kitchen will be included for banquets of up to 1,500 people. A small, executive hotel will be located adjacent to the arena and conference center to serve the sport and event management major and a proposed hospitality management program. It will also accommodate a growing number of requests by organizations who specifically want to tour the campus and experience HPU’s unique educational environment and culture.

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CO N T I N U O U S TR Alumnus Gives Lead Gift to HPU for New Conservatory

Don and Teresa Caine, owners of Greensboro-based Camco Manufacturing, provided a major gift to support the new Conservatory. It will be located near the new Wanek School of Undergraduate Sciences, both of which are part of a major expansion.

The Conservatory will provide 15,000-squarefeet of space for students and faculty to conduct botanical research and propagate plants for the Mariana H. Qubein Arboretum and Gardens.

A classroom, working greenhouse, restaurant and planting display space for the community will be housed in the facility.

Don Caine graduated from HPU in 1965.

A year later, he and Teresa began Camco Manufacturing with one product. Today, Camco has more than 1,200 employees, 3,000 products and multiple manufacturing facilities in the United States and around the world. Camco has also been named to the North Carolina Top 100

by Business North Carolina.

In addition to this gift, the Caines have previously established an endowed scholarship at HPU to support students who demonstrate academic merit and financial need. Teresa also serves on the executive committee for HPU’s Board of Trustees.

“Hard work, determination and adherence to these ideals have enabled the Caine family and Camco to achieve great success and significance,” says Dr. Nido Qubein, HPU President. “We are proud to have them as members of the HPU family and grateful for the ways in which they support the educational pursuits of our students.”

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A N S F O R M AT I O N HPU President Commits to Downtown Revitalization

As the City of High Point constructs a new baseball stadium, depicted above in an artistic rendering, HPU President Nido Qubein is leading major development and fundraising elements of the overall downtown revitalization strategy.

President Nido Qubein is playing a key role in the city of High Point’s efforts to revitalize its downtown area. He has raised $50 million in private donations to support the naming of a baseball stadium and the acquisition of a baseball team.

But that’s not all.

Qubein raised enough funds to build crucial catalyst projects in the downtown area that will make it a year-round attraction for students, faculty, staff and residents of High Point alike.

The $50 million he raised will also support a children’s museum, urban park, educational cinema and events center. He chairs an executive board that oversees these projects and continues to ensure that both the HPU campus and the city it calls home move onward and upward.

DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PROJECTS The $50 million Qubein raised for downtown High Point will fund: BB&T Baseball Stadium naming Professional Baseball Team Congdon Events Center Nido and Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum Jack and Marsha Slane Playground Molly and Ronnie Young Park Rena and Mark Norcross Cinema Fred Wilson Plaza

The Wanek School of Undergraduate Sciences

The High Point University Board of Trustees voted unanimously to honor Karen and Todd Wanek by naming the new School of Undergraduate Sciences for them.

A 128,000-square-foot facility, at a cost of $65 million, will house the new Wanek School of Undergraduate Sciences. It is currently under construction on HPU’s main campus. The school will accommodate growth in majors including biology, chemistry and physics, and a dean will be hired to facilitate the expanding science programs.

400-mile radius of company headquarters in Hixton, Wisconsin.

Todd Wanek is the CEO of Ashley Furniture, and Karen Wanek is president of Superior Fresh.

“We are deeply grateful to this family that invests generously in projects they are passionate about in education and science, and we are happy their children are HPU alumni,” says HPU President Nido Qubein.

“Their investment in our work has enhanced measurably our ability to expand educational programming and improve educational facilities on campus.”

Ashley Furniture, headquartered in Wisconsin, is the largest furniture retailer in the United States and one of the world’s largest furniture manufacturing and distribution facilities.

The company employees 27,000 people worldwide, remains a major presence at the High Point Market and has a distribution facility in Advance, North Carolina.

Superior Fresh raises Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout through sustainable agriculture.

The water for the fish is filtered through a connecting greenhouse that grows a variety of leafy greens, both of which are sold within a

The Waneks are strong supporters of HPU. Ron Wanek, chairman of Ashley Furniture, and his wife, Joyce, have been previously honored with the naming of the R.G. Wanek Center. They are the parents of Todd Wanek.

“Undergraduate sciences have grown tremendously and reflect our commitment to extraordinary academics,” says Dr. Dennis Carroll, HPU provost. “This new facility and new academic school will reflect the demands of 21st century careers like all programs on our campus.”

HPU Pursues More Health Care and Science Programs

After receiving thousands of applications and a high volume of strong candidates for new graduate health care programs, HPU has assembled a team to accelerate the consideration and research phase for additional health-related programs.

HPU is considering programs that strategically align with the successful launch of the Congdon School of Health Sciences, which offers a physical therapy doctoral degree, a physician assistant master’s degree and an athletic training master’s degree, and the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy, which offers a pharmacy doctoral degree.

Both academic schools received a new facility when Congdon Hall opened in 2017.

Collectively, these selective programs received more than 4,000 applications, with each only accepting a small cohort of students per year — 60 for physical therapy, 70 for pharmacy and 35 for physician assistant studies.

Several engineering programs are also being considered based on the growing interest in computer science, interactive gaming and HPU’s In Residence Program, which brings industry titans like Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak to campus regularly to mentor students.

New programs launching in the fall include: New Department of Mathematics Major: Data Analytics and Statistics New Computer Science Concentrations: Cyber Security Visual Computing New Phillips School of Business Major: Finance

Programs being fast-tracked for consideration include: Health Care Graduate Programs: Optometry Nursing Occupational Therapy Engineering Undergraduate Programs: Computer Engineering Electrical Engineering

A DEC ADE OF

UNPRECEDENTED

775%

GROWTH

663%

438% 409% 384%

378%

$290 million

$245,000

245% 3.5 million

203%

190% 112

440

1,840

5,000 $464.5 million

327

1,450

Undergraduate Enrollment (Traditional Students)

$160.3 million

650,000 108

Full-time Faculty

91 Campus Size (acres)

Square Footage

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385

Buildings on Campus (new and acquired)

Total Positions

2017

Economic Impact

2005

$38 million

$28,000

Operating and Capital Budget

United Way Giving

“I was almost crying,” Carroll, HPU’s provost, says today.

“I felt we had been rescued.”

The numbers tell the story.

Since Qubein became president, HPU has invested $2.1 billion and raised $375 million to help it grow. And grow it has.

HPU has quadrupled the size of its campus, quadrupled its student population, tripled its faculty and attracted students from all 50 states and more than 55 countries.

HPU has expanded the number of academic schools from three to eight, created three doctoral programs and is developing an academic niche focused on public health.

“Life is not about risk avoidance, life is about risk management,” Qubein tells the freshmen often during the Life Skills Seminars he teaches. “If you take risk out of life, then you take opportunity out of life.”

For the past six years, U.S. News & World Report has named HPU the No. 1 Regional College in the South, and last year, the Princeton Review named HPU one of the country’s top spots for undergraduate education.

HPU also is ranked No. 8 of 100 colleges nationwide where applications are on the rise. In the past decade, applications have increased 333 percent.

What a difference 13 years makes.

Ask Qubein what drives him, and he will point to his heart. Ask him to explain, and he’ll describe himself as a “solution finder.” He wants to make his alma mater — and the world — a better place, and he believes in the art of the possible.

At 69, his passion has yet to ebb.

Not by a long shot.

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A PARENT’S DISCOVERY Cindy Vallar had just moved to Ohio and started her new executive role with Nestle when she first heard about High Point University.

A co-worker went on and on about how his son loved attending HPU. He recommended Vallar check out the school for her stepdaughter, Victoria Binder, who stayed back home to finish high school outside San Francisco.

Vallar had a quick answer: No way.

“She will never go to school in North Carolina,” Vallar told him. “She lives in California!”

Her co-worker urged her to see for herself. So, Vallar and Binder went.

Afterward, Vallar sent her co-worker a text.

“You were absolutely right,” she wrote.

HPU excited Binder. HPU excited Vallar, too.

She found a university that would nurture her stepdaughter in all aspects of life. Because of that, Vallar believed the quiet, shy girl she had known for nearly 20 years would find direction — and find herself.

That has happened.

Binder is now Victoria Hensley. She’s 25 and a 2015 HPU graduate working in High Point with a local nonprofit that is turning vacant lots into urban farms to help feed local residents, build trust and generate extra income for those who need it.

A CANVAS OF OPPORTUNITY On a weeknight in September, before a packed house in HPU’s Hayworth Fine Arts Center, Qubein unveiled a plan to transform downtown High Point.

Two hours later, after bringing out supporter after supporter, he announced that he had raised $50 million and brought in another $50 million in private investment for a $135 million project seen as essential to revitalizing High Point.

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Hensley is the urban farm facilitator for From The Ground Up. Last fall, a month after marrying her college sweetheart, Hensley was honored by her alma mater as one of 10 alumni making a difference after graduating less than a decade from the university.

“I joke with Victoria that I hardly ever saw the president of my school,” says Vallar, now retired from Nestle. “But what amazes me is how Dr. Qubein makes himself so available to students. He is so committed to making the university better and the students better.

“It’s not just words on paper. You hear it and see it every day.”

Paul Lessard, the president of the High Point Community Foundation, called the project “the most important endeavor of our generation.”

On a 15-acre tract a mile west of campus, the project includes a baseball stadium, an events center, a children’s museum, a hotel, 200 apartments, a park and an educational cinema for families.

The project includes relocating to High Point the Bridgeport Bluefish, a professional baseball team in Bridgewater, Connecticut.

“IF YOU TAKE RISK OUT OF LIFE, THEN YOU TAKE OPPORTUNITY OUT OF LIFE.” – Nido Qubein, HPU President

“This is not for the faint of heart,” Qubein told the crowd. “This is for believers.”

Qubein does believe the project can happen. So do others.

“As they say in golf, ‘Nido, you the man,’” Jim Melvin, a longtime community leader in North Carolina and chairman of the Bryan Foundation, told the crowd in September. “Without your vision, we’d end up going nowhere.”

THE RESULT OF REINVENTION Qubein’s vision is evident everywhere on campus. Students and alumni can vouch for that.

They write Qubein about it, and their emails, letters, cards and notes fill nearly three feet of files. For Qubein, that is his greatest reward.

They write him about personal transformation. When they do, they talk about his seminar class, their future and mention one of the favorite motivational phrases he uses. And they bring up his favorite Bible verse.

But mainly, they say thanks. Qubein, they explain, helped them become who they wanted to be. They are forever grateful. ▲

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GLOBAL LEADERS GUIDE STUDENTS

Netflix Co-Founder Marc Randolph Becomes HPU’s Entrepreneur in Residence

Kathy Elliott remembers what she told the group of students preparing to pitch their business ideas to Netflix Co-Founder Marc Randolph.

“This,” she said, “is a big deal. Practice and be ready.”

And practice they did, many of them inside her office in the Belk Entrepreneurship Center, where Elliott serves as director and mentors flocks of students preparing to launch companies.

They rehearsed. They improved. They stressed.

They laughed at their own nervousness. And then they kept going.

When the big day arrived, a crowd of students gathered in a half circle to support their peers who were presenting, and Randolph sat in the middle. The space sports neon furniture and walls and tables where students can write their ideas. Everything about the center looks and feels like a small business incubator.

But it’s only a space until the students arrive to fill it with their ideas, creativity and collaboration. That day, the center brimmed with the kind of energy — the true spirit of 20

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entrepreneurism — that moves students' businesses forward.

Randolph returned again this year as High Point University’s Entrepreneur in Residence.

So did Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak, who serves as HPU’s Innovator in Residence. More students met the Silicon Valley veterans, shared their ideas with them and received honest feedback from people who’ve revolutionized their industries.

“When HPU welcomes someone like the co-founder of Netflix or the co-founder of Apple to sit and provide real, honest feedback to our students, it builds massive momentum,” Elliott said. “The students know Marc Randolph and Steve Wozniak are coming back again and again, so they are constantly rising to the occasion.

There is never a shortage of cool things happening here.”

“When HPU welcomes the co-founder of Netflix or the co-founder of Apple to sit and provide real, honest feedback to our students, it builds massive momentum.”

– Kathy Elliott, Director of the Belk Center for Entrepreneurship

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THE ANATOMY OF INNOVATIVE MENTORSHIP When global leaders such as Netflix Co-Founder Marc Randolph serve in residence at HPU, a transformational process takes place for the students they mentor.

FROM BLOGGER TO BUSINESS OWNER Mandy Engelman once thought of herself as a girl with a blog.

That was before the Pinehurst, North Carolina native was a freshman at High Point University.

Engelman, a communication major, met Randolph during her first year on campus and pitched her idea to transform her website into a lifestyle brand and business. She practiced for hours leading up to the big moment.

When she pitched to Randolph the next day, she realized her nervousness was proof of how much she cared. She was committed to growing her business. And Randolph told her that was crucial for any business owner.

Student starts with business idea

“It’s the person behind the idea that matters,” he said. “Without the person, the idea doesn’t mean anything. The problems you are solving today have an expiration date of six months, so it’s you who needs to have innovative thinking skills for the future.”

Student pitches a plan to Netflix Co-Founder Marc Randolph

Like last fall, when Engelman was working at the High Point Market, a furniture trade show, near campus. Representatives of Kathy Ireland, the famous model, actress and entrepreneur, invited Engelman to interview the star at a press event where Ireland was debuting a new furniture line.

Randolph provides feedback

Engelman had to act quickly and make a good impression as a blogger for not only Ireland, but the crowd of people watching their interview. And she did.

Student refines business based on feedback

Student takes business to market Learn more about how Marc Randolph helped a student launch her company at highpoint.edu/emilydelena

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That stuck with Engelman. Now she’s a junior operating MandyJEngelman.com. She’s grown her followers and completed several journalism and marketing-related internships at companies like Ashley Furniture. Each opportunity has led to another.

extraordinary education

“All those speech competitions I participated in, all the interviews I conducted for my journalism classes and my blog prepared me for that moment,” Engelman wrote on her website. “There I was, interviewing Kathy Ireland, who was sitting on a panel alongside CEOs and vice presidents. In the middle of my interview, she stopped to applaud me on my communication skills and how confident I appeared.”

“I didn’t think of myself as an entrepreneur before I met Mr. Randolph; I was just a girl with a blog,” Engelman says. “But it was a mindopening experience that changed my perspective on everything.”

LESSONS FROM THE CO-FOUNDER OF NETFLIX ONLY AT HPU Nowhere else.

That’s what Dylan Silber thinks when he asks himself, “At what other university would I have met Netflix Co-Founder Marc Randolph?”

Marc Randolph, HPU’s Entrepreneur in Residence, shares invaluable advice with students. These select quotes from his visits, which have been edited for clarity and context, provide insight into how the Silicon Valley veteran changed the way the world consumes media.

“Nobody knows what is going to work in advance. The only way to figure out if it is a good idea or not is by taking a risk.”

Access to innovators like Randolph is part of what drew him to HPU. Silber was a freshman when he took a selfie with Randolph inside the Belk Entrepreneurship Center. Wozniak signed Silber’s laptop during his sophomore year, and Silber spoke with both Wozniak and Randolph again this year.

“When you’re an entrepreneur, you must have incredible selfconfidence. When everyone else says, ‘That will never work.’ You’ve got to say, ‘Oh yes it will.’”

He’s a double entrepreneurship and sales major who was inspired by Randolph’s first visit to take what he calls his “invention book” and turn some of his designs into prototypes.

“After Marc Randolph visited, I started building prototypes,” Silber said. “That is one thing that stuck with me. He told us that you learn more in one day of doing than in a year of working on your business plan.”

“The path to success is not a welltrodden path. In fact, there is no path. You have to be willing to take those three or four steps when you cannot see where the fifth step goes.”

Silber participated in the Elevator Pitch Competition and the Business Plan Competition. He’s sought advice from Elliott and other professors, and he’s met small business owners Elliott invites to the center as guest speakers, including a former “Shark Tank” contestant.

“If you have an idea, do something with it. You’ll learn more in a day of doing than you will in a year of planning.”

He understands that HPU’s network of mentorship is strong.

The foundation begins with faculty like Elliott. It's reinforced by leaders like Randolph and Wozniak who are in residence at HPU. The connections spin off like a web that reaches almost every corner, from small businesses on Main Street in High Point all the way to Silicon Valley.

“You have to enjoy what you’re doing.

You cannot work this hard, you cannot work with gratification so delayed, if you don’t love coming to work every day.”

“I know I wouldn’t have gotten this experience anywhere else,” Silber says. “Learning from people who are entrepreneurs at this level…it’s absolutely life changing.”

“The true sign, in my opinion, of a successful person, is they get to do what they want every day.”

Engelman seconds that.

“One of the least known but most important attributes of successful entrepreneurs is their ability to build teams.”

“I’ve spoken to a lot of friends who go to other schools about this, and they’ve asked me, ‘Why are you meeting with the co-founder of Netflix? How did you get that opportunity?’ I’m blown away by the opportunities this university gives me to help grow my business and help all of my dreams come true.” ▲

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SEIZING OPPORTUNITY Students develop confidence through experience in and beyond the classroom in the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication.

On the first day of her practicum, Holly Llewellyn discovered she’d joined a public relations agency.

“It’s up to all of you whether this firm succeeds or fails,” Professor John Mims told her and her peers that day.

And it was. Through the next few months, Llewellyn and 40 other students, some in the practicum and some dedicating their time to the agency outside of class, ran a real-world operation by creating campaigns, graphics and messaging for nonprofit organizations and businesses in the city of High Point.

And Llewellyn rose to the rank of agency director.

Llewellyn, a senior from Glenview, Illinois, majoring in strategic communication with a minor in marketing, was drawn to the agency because she wanted to use her skills in a real-world scenario. The agency allowed her to work directly with clients — an experience she’d never been exposed to.

“It has been a unique and eye-opening journey for me,” she says. “Running an agency is not an easy task, but I am glad to have had the chance. Whether we, as an agency, failed or succeeded was up to us. This gave me and my peers the opportunity to put everything we have learned so far to use.”

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Mims is a public relations and marketing professional with 20 years of experience. He designed the course to support the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication’s public relations agency, Ascension 336. The student-run agency utilizes the creative minds of High Point University students to produce innovative advertising campaigns for a wide range of businesses, nonprofit organizations and groups within the city. The practicum course focuses on supervised, practical application of PR tactics within the agency.

Mims has advised Ascension 336 since the agency’s inception in the fall of 2016. The agency was established

by Mims’ 20-person practicum class, but quickly grew to include additional students who “interned” for the agency.

Now, with expanded practicum classes, the agency is comprised of 40 working members.

And this year, the growth continued. The agency expanded in student involvement, the client list increased and most importantly, students further grew themselves into industry leaders.

“I’ve always had my sights set on working for established brands, but this has proven to be an exciting challenge,”

“HPU provides the opportunity — you just have to take it. If you’ll follow through and commit, HPU will help you make it happen.”

Logan Carter, Sophomore and Producer of “Game of Inches,” a studentproduced sports broadcast

says Llewellyn. “Ascension 336 is unique in the sense that there is an ‘anything is possible’ attitude. Ideas come to life in this supportive environment and students are able to bring their skills to the next level.”

As for Mims — he’s become a mentor for Llewellyn.

“He helped me to realize that my experience could be impactful if I put in the work,” says Llewellyn.

“Encouraging me to think beyond the classroom is one of the biggest ways that Professor Mims has prepared me for my future career. I have learned that I must think for myself in order reach my full potential.”

To Llewellyn, leading the agency is just one of the many ways Mims demonstrates his unique teaching methods.

“His teaching style is distinctive because instead of telling us exactly what to do when we are unsure, he encourages us to think for ourselves and figure it out on our own,” says Llewellyn. “There’s a lot of room for completing an assignment in the way that we think it should be done.”

And while Llewellyn looks to Mims for advisement, mentorship isn’t difficult to find in other areas of the School of Communication.

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Then came the TV studio.

“When I toured HPU, there were other schools I’d been considering,” Carter says. “But, when I saw the studio, I knew that HPU provides the opportunity — you just have to take it.

If you’ll follow through and commit, HPU will help you make it happen.”

After beginning a sports podcast in March of his freshman year, Carter decided that his show had potential to be bigger.

It was made for TV.

A MENTOR IN MEDIA In November 2017, Logan Carter launched his sports talk show, “Game of Inches,” from inside the School of Communication’s newly renovated TV studio.

Carter, a sophomore, knew two things when he came to HPU. He loved sports and he wanted a career in communication.

HPU’s communication major answered his call.

“Sport communication degrees aren’t offered at many schools,” says Carter. “That immediately set HPU apart.”

Joe Michaels, HPU Broadcaster in Residence in the School of Communication, agreed with Carter and set out to help.

Beyond his time spent in the classroom, Michaels met with Carter during the pair’s free time to plan for a sports broadcast show.

“He leaves the stories and all of the legwork up to the students,” Carter says about Michaels. “He’s all about making sure it’s our show from start to finish. But, he’s always there to give advice and guidance when we ask.”

The show has grown to be different from any sports program that came before it at HPU. Carter wanted to expand his coverage beyond campus and has done so by inviting guest

Event Management Program Wins International Award For the second consecutive year, High Point University’s event management program in the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication received international recognition as the best event management bachelor’s degree. Dr. Vern Biaett, assistant professor of event management, accepted the Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Gold Award during the annual International Festivals & Events Association Convention.

The Pinnacle Awards recognize the quality, excellence, creativity and achievements of the festival and event industry, including the top bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in event management education.

HPU’s innovative new program has grown from eight students declaring the major in 2015, to 57 students in 2016 and 98 in fall 2017. The program also has 50 students minoring in event management. In addition to their classwork, event management students are also community partners, volunteering and interning more than 1,200 hours annually with local event-related organizations and facilities, as well as several nonprofit organizations.

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HPU students majoring in communication can choose to take courses in the event management track. The program uniquely positions students to land jobs in public, nonprofit, or private event management and marketing organizations, run their own small event management company or attend graduate school.

“Our HPU program, uniquely housed in a communication school, employs an innovative approach to the field of event management,” said Biaett. “It is wonderful that the festival and events industry is excited about our new and creative methods and has recognized it with a Gold Pinnacle Award for the past two years. I can’t wait to tell them what we are planning for the future.”

“Our students have worked so hard and have been a huge part of the development of this successful curriculum and experiential program, so I am not surprised the IFEA recognized the value of this program,” says Dr. Virginia McDermott, interim dean of the School of Communication.

“The program continues to improve and will add a new faculty member in the fall. Students who come to HPU for event management will be part of the continued excellence of the program.”

commentators from various sports teams across North Carolina to campus.

“I’ve had to push myself far beyond my comfort zone in an effort to make this show a success,” says Carter. “Reaching out to college and high school sports coaches can be intimidating, but it’s necessary to keep the show going, and it’s created a new confidence in me, plus a strong network of connections that I’m sure I’ll call on in the future.”

Carter says that after airing the first show, it quickly accumulated 21,000 views on the “Game of Inches” YouTube channel.

And, he credits his team.

Carter is a member of the Media Fellows in the School of Communication, a program that invites select incoming freshmen to take part in real-world projects in a client/ agency model, work together to develop unique research and travel domestically and internationally to examine trends in the media industry.

Having already formed close bonds with his Media Fellows, Carter leaned on them for support in creating his show.

“Media Fellows gave me the opportunity to meet and form bonds with students who are really dedicated to their craft,” says Carter. “In order to make any venture successful, I’ve learned that you have to surround yourself with people who are just as committed to your goal as you are. They have to take pride in wanting it on their resume, and that ultimately makes it a success.”

And while Carter’s show focuses primarily on broadcast strategy under the guidance of Michaels, Carter says he’s uncovered a new passion throughout the process.

“I thought I wanted to be in sports broadcasting,” he says. “And while I love my show, what I’ve really learned throughout this process is that I love managing and leading a communication team. I know that’s a skill that will transfer to any career I choose to pursue, and I’m forever grateful that I had this opportunity within the HPU School of Communication.” ▲

Snapshots of Successful Grads Susan LaSalla, ’65 Former Senior Producer NBC News Susan LaSalla produced shows from all around the world that millions of Americans watched every day during her 42-year career with NBC News. The Emmy-Award winner and two-time Emmy nominee produced the first-ever live broadcast from the USS Theodore Roosevelt and produced interviews with many U.S. Presidents during her time at NBC. This seasoned veteran’s long and successful career earned LaSalla the HPU Alumnus of the Year Award in 2011.

Mikaela Campbell, ’18 Associate for NBA Headquarters Class of 2018 graduate and sport management major Mikaela Campbell joins the National Basketball Association in NYC as part of the NBA Associate Program. This competitive, two-year program for recent college graduates will allow Campbell to experience different sectors of NBA headquarters before taking on a single role. At HPU, she found a mentor in Dr. Jenny Lukow, gained leadership skills on the NQSC Student Advisory Board, and landed internships with USA Track and Field, Under Armour and IMG College.

Caroline Stewart, ’12 NBC Producer HPU 2012 alumna Caroline Stewart has been celebrating a successful career in the entertainment industry since graduating. She has worked on the hit TV show “The X Factor,” worked at the Grammy Awards, toured with Demi Lovato, and is currently a producer for NBC’s “World of Dance.” Like many of her fellow Nido R. Qubein School of Communication graduates, her education at HPU has led her to a career that she is passionate about.

Andrew Faust, ’12 Digital Health Communications Strategist for Banyan Communications A 2012 graduate of HPU, Andrew Faust currently works for Banyan Communications to develop, implement and evaluate multimedia health communications strategies for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. While at HPU, Faust received the Pulitzer Fellowship, which allowed him to travel to the Middle East and report on international health issues. His work was published by the Pulitzer Center and The Huffington Post.

Daniel Miller, ’98 Reporter at FOX 25 As a reporter for FOX 25 Boston, Miller has had an acclaimed career. To honor his alma mater, Miller donated his Emmy to the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication.

In 2010, HPU gave him the first-ever Young Alumni Achievement Award for his work.

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HPU’S SCHOOL OF ART & DESIGN:

CREATING EXPERIENCES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Walking into Norton Hall, you will see students’ artwork on display around every corner.

Photography, paintings and drawings of all sizes showcase projects they’ve completed.

Beyond the foyer, in the high-tech studios and classrooms, students in High Point University’s School of Art and Design aren’t just creating works of art.

They’re building their future.

Here, students are inspired by their professors to take on new opportunities, try new techniques and explore how they can apply their knowledge outside the classroom.

Dr. John Turpin, dean of the School of Art and Design, knows professors are the key to unlocking students’ potential.

“I believe this has everything to do with the faculty and staff and the example that they set,” Turpin says. “It begins with the inspiration offered by HPU President Nido Qubein and what he has done at HPU. Then it becomes more about those meaningful moments between a faculty mentor and student.”

HPU is the only private college in North Carolina and one of only a handful elsewhere to offer students the opportunity to study in programs accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

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On page 28 from left to right: Zhane Chapman refines her sculpture; Nick Bellamy completed several internships at the High Point Market working in sales for showrooms.

To the left on this page: Professor Catherine Hillenbrand-Nowicki, Lauren Yoder, Maureen Coleman and Dana Bentley stand in the women’s shelter that they updated.

Prepared to Succeed Nick Bellamy, who graduated in 2017 with a degree in visual merchandising, knows he wouldn’t have achieved his dreams without the experiential learning opportunities provided by HPU.

A Place to Call Home The kitchen walls were painted a 1950’s mint green. The living room’s dusty maroon and gold colors were dark and uninviting. But with help from HPU students, these spaces now resemble something from a magazine.

Last fall, assistant professor Catherine Hillenbrand-Nowicki and three interior design students gave Leslie’s House, an emergency shelter for women experiencing homelessness, a much needed facelift.

It was an experience that benefited their community while providing skills they can take beyond HPU and into the real world.

Dana Bentley, manager at Leslie’s House, contacted Hillenbrand-Nowicki just a month before the 10th anniversary of the shelter’s opening for help updating the space.

Hillenbrand-Nowicki knew which students to call: Lauren Yoder, Maureen Coleman and Emily Kendall, each presidents of interior design clubs on campus.

Together, they secured funding from the International Interior Design Association of the Carolinas, which allowed them to purchase new paint and accessories for the kitchen and living room.

Although each had worked independently in the classroom, learning to communicate and collaborate with group members and community leaders was a valuable learning experience.

“We do a lot of projects and a lot of drawing and drafting, but this allowed us to see the space come to life,” says Yoder. “It was a good experience to be able to see the project from start to finish.”

Bellamy began his career immediately after graduation as an assistant buyer for Pottery Barn in San Francisco. His duties include creating furniture lines and negotiating contracts with vendors.

According to Bellamy, being encouraged by his professors to complete internships, including an internship at Pottery Barn Teen, connect with faculty mentors and take life skills courses, like a course in sales, helped him get to where he is today.

Kendall agrees that guidance from her professors helped her succeed at her internship this past fall with Hooker Furniture at the High Point Market, a furniture trade show for interior designers and buyers from large furniture companies.

“My professors have taught me to be confident, to network and to talk to people,” says Kendall. “High Point University prepares you to be confident and empowered and to take that into the workplace. That helps me see myself as a professional doing this.”

HPU’s interior design students are at a distinct advantage because of their close proximity to the High Point Market, which attracts 100,000 industry leaders to the city. In addition, the city’s rich history as the Furniture Capital of the World provides the ultimate out-of-the-classroom experience — hundreds of furniture showrooms and companies located in the city’s downtown.

Each year, those companies seek HPU students to work in their showrooms. These experiences allow students to learn life skills, such as collaborating with team members to achieve goals and communicating directly with customers.

The trio also got to see their designs being executed in the space — an opportunity that will set them apart when they graduate.

Bellamy also completed internships at the High Point Market and used them to build his resume. Interning at furniture companies allowed him to network with professionals and build experience in the furniture industry. This helped him land an internship with Pottery Barn Teen the summer before his senior year, which then led to his employment at Pottery Barn.

“Paying it forward, our design students are helping to make the lives of the women that Leslie’s House serves more beautiful,” says Hillenbrand-Nowicki.

“Internships are a great way to show off what you can do. Even if you don’t think people are watching, they notice the hard work you put in,” says Bellamy. ▲

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A Web of Support Helps Business Students Excel On the corner of April Cosner’s desk, for every business student to see, sits a paperweight with something from Dr. Seuss that has become her mantra.

“Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting so… get on your way.”

Business students do. Cosner, an HPU career advisor, helps hundreds of students a year with resumes, cover letters and interview skills as she guides them toward finding a passion, an internship or a job after graduation.

They come to Cosner’s first-floor office in Cottrell Hall after first seeing Pam Francisco on the second floor. Francisco is a former high school principal who has served as a success coach the past four years for almost every firstyear business student.

Her students see her as a surrogate mom; Francisco calls them “my kids.”

She has a progress report on each one of them in a three-ring binder two inches thick. They’ll come by often, sit across from her at her tall table in Cottrell, and hear what they need to do.

“Oh, you’re smart enough to do this,” Francisco, a mother of two grown daughters, will tell them about a course. “You just need to work a little harder.”

So begins the journey of every business student at HPU. What they all find is a web of support, a network of staff and faculty who challenge them to excel, take risks, think like an entrepreneur and know that the art of selling is vital to everything they do.

Dreams Take Root At HPU, business majors make up about 25 percent of the university’s entire population. That’s more than 1,200 students who take one or more majors — accounting, business, entrepreneurship, international business, marketing and sales.

Six months after graduation, 96 percent of all HPU students either have a job or have gone on to graduate school.

That number is reflective of the entire campus population, and HPU business students mention that number with pride. Then, they’ll start what they’re doing — beginning a business, scoring another internship, entering a national sales competition and working hard so they can land a potential job.

Or they’ll mention their nerves, about how they practiced their presentation for days, stepped before four judges, swallowed their fear and pitched a potential business. They say it was the scariest three minutes of their lives.

But they do it — and they learn. They feel a part of something special.

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“It’s that sense of camaraderie I remember. That ‘Hey, we’re here for you, and we want you to set the world on fire.’”

– Jeremy Hiatt, ’10, Assurance Manager at Smith-Leonard Alumni are no different. Take Jeremy Hiatt.

AN Environment of Exploration

He’s an accountant with Smith-Leonard, one of North Carolina’s largest accounting firms, and he comes to campus every year to recruit interns and talk to them about their future and their dreams.

On a Thursday night, minutes before HPU’s annual Elevator Pitch Competition, professor Troy Knauss walks into a knot of well-dressed competitors behind a glass-walled office inside Cottrell.

He knows just how they feel.

“This is your Super Bowl, your chance onstage,” he says to them, smiling. “Make it happen.”

Hiatt graduated from HPU in May 2010 with an accounting degree, and that summer, he interned with Smith-Leonard.

Now, after two promotions, he works for Smith-Leonard as an assurance manager in High Point.

When he comes to campus, Hiatt catches up with George Noxon and Scott Davis, two former professors, and he always remembers what he learned. He even can quote something Davis said in class: “Accounting is the language of business.”

But really, it’s more than that.

“It’s that sense of camaraderie I remember. That, ‘Hey, we’re here for you, and we want you to set the world on fire,’” Hiatt says today. “And I believed them. That encouragement and support from my professors and the university overall instilled the value that anything is achievable.”

Knauss teaches courses on business modeling, creativity and entrepreneurship, and he knows the terrain well. He’s an angel investor and a venture capitalist. He also has invested in 48 other companies, and he has started and sold five companies.

Meanwhile, he was the fifth generation of a family business.

His great-great-grandfather started a food company in 1902 in Pennsylvania. After 15 years in the family business, Knauss sold it in 2005.

He brings all that experience into the classroom because he wants his students to gain the skills to succeed in an economy where competition grows with each passing year.

“Entrepreneurs fail because they don’t have the right skill set, and that is the skill set I want them to learn here,” Knauss says.

“They get experience in a safe environment. You don’t have that opportunity at large universities. You get lost. Here, you can see anyone any day.”

What Support Can Do Freshman Matt DeRienzo saw Cosner, his career advisor, every week for four straight months.

DeRienzo grew up in Southbury, Connecticut, loving sports, playing football and following the Oakland Raiders. Last year, when he came to HPU to study business administration, he found an internship with the Atlantic Coast Conference that involved working with football game-day operations.

He wanted it. But he needed help. He came to Cosner.

She helped him with his resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile and worked with him on countless mock interviews, saying,

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“That’s good, but there is a better way to say it.”

In June, DeRienzo found out he got the internship. The first person he told was Cosner.

“It’s the best thing to have someone in your corner,” DeRienzo says. “You can’t let them down because then you’re letting yourself down.”

For Cosner, that’s what she tries to do — empower students.

“I enjoy immensely helping students find their passion and their purpose,” she says. “That is what I’m teaching them.

They have so much potential. They just don’t know how to get there.”

Cosner receives her share of thank yous. So does Francisco, the success coach.

Like this text, full of exclamation marks.

“I just wanted to let you know that I’ve accepted a job offer from the firm I worked for this summer in Boston! Wouldn’t have happened without the help and advice you gave me over the last few years. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for me! I appreciate you for sticking with me after my freshman year. It means a lot.”

Ask Francisco about all that, and she responds in a voice barely above a whisper.

“That is why I do what I do.” ▲

The Power of Perseverance With his iPhone glued to his ear, Joseph Cochrane-Brown looked anxious as he paced back and forth outside Cottrell Hall’s ballroom.

He was far from alone.

HPU’s annual Elevator Pitch Competition always brings out the nerves for every participating student. They’re all budding entrepreneurs, and they have a chance to win as much as $2,500 from four judges. It complements the Annual Business Plan Competition, where students compete for up to $15,000.

All they have to do is convince the judges that their potential business is a good idea that works.

Students have three minutes to do it. It feels like a lifetime.

Minutes before any competition, students practice their pitch to themselves, in front of friends or they simply cluster in a crowd, hands in pockets, pacing in tight circles, trying to tamp down the nerves of the night.

That happened in November, the seventh year of the competition. Twenty-three students competed. CochraneBrown’s hours of presentation practice paid off.

Cochrane-Brown, a business administration senior from Cary, North Carolina, snagged first place. He and two friends will receive $2,500 to put the finishing touches on a website that can convert a student’s notes to flash cards and study guides.

He won. Brittany McCoy didn’t.

She pitched the idea of installing a blinking device on a car’s back bumper to tell incoming drivers to turn off their bright lights. She got the idea from the many nights she drove from High Point to her home in eastern North Carolina.

McCoy is 26, a doctoral candidate in HPU’s School of Pharmacy. When she arrived last year, she didn’t know what entrepreneurship was — let alone how to fine-tune a pitch.

Now, she does. Now, she can use that skill as a pharmacist, a skill learned at HPU. “I tell myself constantly, ‘Opportunities are here,’” she says. “‘Stop procrastinating. Look what you can do.’”

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OPPORTUNITIES

ABOUND in HPU’s College of Arts and Sciences They sound like proud parents.

They’ll mention their former students by first name, pointing to pictures on their office walls and rattling off stories about how a particular student surprised them, showed potential and grew.

They are the professors of HPU’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Like Jay Putnam.

“I don’t teach because it’s my job,” says Putnam, an associate professor of theater.

“I teach because I get to guide someone for a certain period of time, and that relationship never stops. I like that a lot.”

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THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTORSHIP Courtney Feiman, one of Putnam’s former students, graduated in 2014 with a double major in theater and music. She now manages three theaters, including the Folger Theatre, a two-minute walk from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Her job gives her the flexibility to relocate to Fort Meyers, Florida, for two months at a time and perform with one of the country’s top repertory companies, a company where she interned — the Florida Repertory Theatre.

“High Point prepared me for that,” Feiman says. “They saw potential in me.”

Dr. Thomas Dearden, an assistant professor of criminal justice, saw potential in Melanie Savage.

For 18 months, she helped him with his death-penalty research and presented

her findings at a conference in Kansas City. She also interned with the High Point Police Department in its crime lab and helped investigate more than two dozen crime scenes.

Savage graduated in May with a criminal justice degree.

Today, she is an agent for the U.S. Secret Service.

“Everything I did at High Point built my confidence and understanding in myself,” Savage says. “If I hadn’t gone to that conference in Kansas City, I wouldn’t have been able to go through five interviews with people in suits. I would’ve been freaking out.”

THE TANGIBLE GROWTH OF STUDENTS & HPU Dr. Matt Carlson teaches English. Dr. Robert Moses teaches religion. They both know education takes place in — and outside — the classroom.

So in May 2016, after finishing a course on Scottish literature, Carlson took his students to Scotland to understand how literature and literary history are rooted in the very heart and soul of a particular place.

She didn’t. Neither did Scotty Keidel.

“When I hear students say, ‘This is kinda crazy, but …,’ I know whatever they say will be incisive,” Carlson says. “That’s when their brain clicks on, and they take a leap.”

He co-wrote three articles with Dr. Nicole Hughes, an associate professor of biology. Meanwhile, he and a few other students worked with Hughes in Wyoming researching how cloud formations affect plants.

This May, Moses will complete a two-week trip to the Middle East with a handful of students. Moses calls the study-abroad excursion “Holy Land: Geography, History & Theology in the Gospels and Second Temple Judaism.”

A $205,000 grant Hughes received from the National Science Foundation funded that research.

Keidel graduated with a biology degree in May 2013. This spring, he will graduate from the School of Osteopathic Medicine at Campbell University.

He knows why he was accepted.

“Being able to go in and have research and publications with my name on them,” Keidel says, “is a huge thing.”

Hughes wants her students to experience what she calls “real science.”

Ask her about that, and she’ll point to the photos behind her door.

They’re of Keidel and her other students doing research with her in some faraway place of mountains and trees.

“These moments,” she says, “you can't have inside a classroom.”

For Moses, the trip fulfills a primary university mission: teach students to become global citizens and spur them to think deeply about what they do and how they respond to the world around them.

“We’re all interconnected,” Moses says.

“We’re all God’s children.”

But there is something else that catches Moses’ attention.

As the editor of “The Lighted Lamp,” the annual journal that recognizes the faculty’s scholarly work, Moses notices the growing number of professors creating knowledge through research.

That shows him much.

“We have so much to be proud of,” he says. “We have all these scholars who are ambitious and contributing to their field, and they’re putting High Point University on the map.” ▲

DR. RON LAMB:

THE PROFESSOR WHO HELPS STUDENTS FIND THE ANSWERS Dr. Ron Lamb keeps a candy bowl inside his office right by the door.

But that’s not why his students come.

Lamb teaches actuarial science, the discipline that uses math to assess risks in any business. Actuarial jobs are abundant; the pay is good. But it’s like preparing for the Olympics to become one. You have to practice for years.

HPU graduates have to pass the first of many exams to become an actuary, and every exam hour equates to 100 hours of study.

So, students drop by Lamb’s office.

They’ll pluck a Snickers from the bowl and ask Lamb all kinds of questions. And Lamb helps.

He created the actuarial science major eight years ago. He’s even taken the actuarial exams himself to make sure he tailors the classes he teaches to the skills every actuary needs.

His graduates notice. They pass the exams and contact Lamb right away.

That bond never disappears. Many keep in touch and drop by his office when they come to campus to recruit HPU students for the companies where they work.

He’s still their mentor. He’s also their friend. highpoint.edu

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FROM CAMPUS TO THE CLASSROOM:

Mentorship Guides HPU Education Graduates According to Katie Ethridge, mentorship is what sets the Stout School of Education apart.

A 2014 graduate from the school’s B.A. to M.A. master’s program, Ethridge teaches science at Byers Middle School in Denver, Colorado.

When she was a student, her university community was filled with support and accountability. As a full-time educator, she now understands the impact made on her by professors who cared for her as a person and an educator.

Mallory Heffelfinger agrees. She graduated in 2017 and will complete her first year of teaching this spring.

Heffelfinger credits the school for equipping her with the skills and strategies needed to be a highly effective teacher and says she was provided numerous opportunities that fostered her love for service and leadership in the field of education.

But, both she and Ethridge thank one specific mentor for their success.

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Bridging the University Experience with Careers “Mrs. Debbie Albert was my most impactful mentor at HPU,” says Heffelfinger. “She served as my advisor, professor, and university supervisor during my student teaching. I came to refer to her as my ‘Campus Momma!’”

Beyond the walls of the classroom and far from HPU’s campus, Albert continues to mentor Heffelfinger and hundreds of other School of Education graduates both personally and professionally.

Albert joined HPU in 2011 as a clinical assistant instructor. A graduate of HPU’s School of Education herself, Albert has been an educator for 32 years. Now, she’s giving back to the school that gave her a start.

In 2012, only one year after joining the university, Albert became director of the New Teacher Support Group,

an initiative within the School of Education designed to support first and second-year teachers as they transition from the university to the teaching profession.

“She has invested countless hours in helping me to become a better version of myself and a better teacher,” says Heffelfinger. “Her thoughtful emails and coffee conversations have always provided me with the encouragement and insight that I need. I am the ‘Miss H’ I am today because of Mrs. Albert’s mentorship of me as a whole person.”

Ethridge shares similar sentiments.

“Mrs. Albert was pivotal in my success as a beginning teacher. She was always willing to help me brainstorm, connect me with rich resources for my classroom, and hear about my experiences as a young professional,” says Ethridge.

“Even as an experienced educator, I can always count on the faculty at HPU to support both me and my students.”

While undergraduates have strong clinical experiences thanks to their coursework and extensive preparation in curriculum, classroom management, assessment, pedagogy and instruction, data shows that more teachers stay in the teaching profession when supported by a mentor.

That’s why Albert began the New Teacher Support Group as an additional support and encouragement resource for HPU’s most recent graduates.

A team of mentors, including career teachers and administrators, pair with recent graduates throughout their first years of teaching. In addition to direct contact through mentor support, a Facebook group has been added to the School of Education Facebook page that allows for interactions between faculty, mentors and new teachers.

“The program has been very successful,” says Dr. Mariann Tillery, dean of the Stout School of Education. “When students leave us, we continue to provide them with support. The first three years are an adjustment period, and teachers are simultaneously their most vulnerable. Research has proven that the number one reason teachers leave the industry is due to lack of support.”

Though the program is still new, professors in the School of Education are looking for ways to continuously evolve and improve their efforts.

Most recently, they discovered a new means of helping graduates by using data from a common source — Facebook.

Mentor-Minded Leadership Dr. Stephanie Hall earned her doctorate degree from HPU’s School of Education in May 2017. But before

she graduated and went on to become a principal in North Carolina, she gave back to the school’s mentorship program in a major way.

EDUCATING THE HEART

As part of her dissertation, Hall worked with Tillery for two years on collecting data from the School of Education’s alumni Facebook group.

COMMUNITY LEGO DAYS:

A glimpse at the Stout School of Education’s community outreach programs:

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Hall saw that recent graduates turned first- and second-year teachers often shared the day-to-day victories and stresses of their jobs on the group Facebook page.

children and their family members have attended free since 2012.

TOPSoccer

Tillery and Hall tracked the types of comments and coded them based on whether or not the comments were positive, negative or neutral in regards to teaching. For the ones that were negative, they further classified the topic of the comments and came up with five common stressors for teachers during their early years of teaching.

PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Education majors and faculty host six weeks of skill building each year.

BOOK BUDDIES

Now, they are using that data to further tailor the mentorship program and meet the professional needs of graduates.

HPU students partner with local elementary children for a semester of one-one-on mentorship in reading and writing.

“In everything we do, I’m asking myself ‘How do we use this information for our graduates?’” says Tillery.

THE TEACHER ACADEMY HAS HOSTED

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And the graduates feel the impact of that.

“I’m originally from outside Philadelphia, and I knew a lot of people who attended HPU,” says Ethridge. “The university was small enough and big enough. The campus itself attracted me, and the amount of practicum you get in the School of Education really drew me in. Having the resources of a large university but the ability to make students feel that they’re personally cared for, that’s what makes the education at HPU so valuable and unique. The School of Education embodies that.” ▲

STEM CAMP

PROVIDES

TEACHERS in 5 years for seminars on STEM education techniques.

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DAYS of engaging

STEM activities for local children.

HOLIDAY DANCES

FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS Hosted by the Student Council for Exceptional Children

“Educating the mind without educating the heart and soul is no education at all.”

– Aristotle

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GROWING

By Celia Glenn, Class of 2018

Looking back, I’ll admit it — there were times when I felt unprepared to study abroad.

I pictured myself filling out applications, booking plane tickets, packing bags and living an exotic, Pinterest-inspired, international lifestyle like I’d seen my friends seemingly do. It’s easy to get lost in romantic thoughts about traveling the globe.

But then I felt the first wave of uncertainty as I boarded my plane to Chile. I was the only High Point University student on the trip, which meant it was up to me to find a group of friends who would make this corner of the world seem like home for a semester.

And then I stepped into a world where English wasn’t common. All the Spanish classes I’d taken didn’t stop me from stumbling through my first few conversations with native speakers.

Soon, though, I realized I’d been thinking about it all wrong.

Being prepared doesn’t mean you’ll always be comfortable in new situations.

It just means you’ll be able to grow in the midst of it.

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Into the Unknown Studying abroad in Valparaíso, Chile, gave me some of the most exciting and adventurous moments in my life.

I traveled to a few of the world’s most beautiful spots, like the mountaintops of Machu Picchu and the glaciers of Patagonia. I bus-hopped to Peru with other college students, and I hiked to lagoons I’d imagined were only seen on National Geographic.

The fun, picturesque memories are easy to recall. But there were challenges, too, and lots of daily adjustments to my new way of life. Like living with a family who didn’t know me, but would grow to become my second home.

As my life adjusted there, I realized later that HPU hadn’t just prepared me to adapt to my experience in Chile. They’d prepared me with the information and techniques I needed to navigate the unknown.

First were my professors. Within the Spanish department, faculty challenged me to study abroad and asked me to raise my expectations of myself. They encouraged me to not just study Spanish as a hobby, but to really dedicate myself to the language and commit to being a double major. They helped me choose classes that would keep me on track toward my degree and helped me choose Chile as my destination based on the types of experiences I wanted to gain.

ABROAD Then there was HPU’s Study Abroad Office. The staff was instrumental in finding the opportunity that would take me to Chile. They helped me submit my applications and line up all travel requirements before I departed. Without staff like Joy Mondalto, who was so instrumental in making sure I was keeping up with all deadlines and documents for international travel, my semester abroad would not have been possible.

A ‘Can Do’ Culture And finally, there’s HPU as an institution. The university culture has given me the opportunity to meet and love so many people who are different from me. Because of my years spent on campus, it was easier to make new friends abroad who came from all corners of the world.

HPU worked to connect me with the world every day on campus — recognizing the importance of global connection. It readied me for when an opportunity abroad came.

Living in Chile was by far one of the best things I’ve ever done. It gave me a family who took me in as one of their own and introduced me to their culture in such a welcoming way. It brought me fluency with a language I previously hardly knew and an understanding of a world completely different from my own.

I brought back a deeper understanding of ways I wanted to use my degrees in communication and Spanish — ways I hadn’t thought of previously. I’ve worked regularly at the twice-yearly High Point Furniture Market, where people from all over the world come to see the latest developments in the industry. Many of the clients who visit the showrooms there aren’t native English speakers. When I returned from my trip abroad, I was able to walk them through studios and explain pricing in their language, which was helpful for both the customer and my employer.

I have a strong sense of independence and a new perspective that carries me through different aspects of my life now. I understand other cultures more than I ever could have before living with a host family. I became a second daughter to them, gained new friends and built compassion for a country so different than my own.

So no, my study abroad trip wasn’t easy. It stretched me and required me to grow in all sorts of ways.

But that’s what HPU prepared me to do — face the unknown with confidence and return a changed person.

When it comes to preparing for a life of adventure, no university does it better than HPU. ▲

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MAKING THEIR MARK

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“

By the time our students graduate, they’ll have five or six presentations behind them.

Students with this kind of experience grow up academically faster than their peers.

”

– Dr. Joanne Altman, Director of Undergraduate Research and Creative Works

Students Distinguish themselves with Engaging Academic Research Seanna Naylon sat nervously, watching presentation after presentation at the State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium.

A group of 14 students from High Point University, including Naylon, had left campus early that morning for a day filled with academic research presentations.

It was the culmination of many hours of hard work spent poring over a plethora of subjects.

Naylon, a freshman from Florida majoring in international business, is just one among a distinctive crop of students who are taking part in student and faculty research projects. These projects ultimately help students build a unique set of credentials that distinguish themselves from among nearly 2 million others nationwide they’ll graduate alongside.

It’s all part of the plan for students involved in the Undergraduate Research and Creative Works (URCW) program at HPU. The program encourages collaborative partnerships between students and faculty — leading students to learn high-level skills — graduate level skills, explains Dr. Joanne Altman, director of URCW. As a first-year student, Naylon is relishing an opportunity that most universities don’t offer to freshmen, but HPU does. The university shows students how they can make their mark through academic research opportunities with Research Rookies, a program designed to engage freshmen and first-semester sophomores as academic scholars.

Altman, who designed Research Rookies, says the program exists to teach students how to not only go about getting involved in research opportunities, but how to become active researchers. “The goal of the program is to prepare them to be ready to research; they’re learning how to enter the culture of research and learning how to embark in these opportunities,” says Altman. “Students are gaining critical thinking skills, creating surveys and learning how to utilize programs like Excel.”

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Students in Research Rookies are also tasked with completing several activities to help build skills in all facets; they even attend conferences to get a first-hand view of what presenting research actually looks like. Following completion of the program, students connect with faculty members to get involved in various research opportunities.

Naylon’s story began in “American Moments,” a sports history class taught by Dr. Paul Ringel, associate professor of history. Her project — “ The Negro National League,” which detailed the first-ever successful African American baseball league — impressed Ringel. He encouraged her to continue with her research and he guided her through the process.

Despite her initial fears at that first conference — “my stomach dropped as if I were on a roller coaster and it never came down,” Naylon says — she pushed ahead. “As a freshman, I had very little experience performing in-depth research. I didn’t know if I could move forward with the project. But Dr. Ringel encouraged me to continue; he mentored me throughout the entire project, as well as David Bryden, director of Library Services, who helped me learn how to use HPU databases.”

And that faculty support is precisely what makes research at HPU so successful. Naylon had coaching from supportive faculty every step of the way. Now, she’s more eager than ever to get involved in future research 42

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projects. She’s in good company with many other students on campus involved in academic research.

“Research projects get our students thinking critically,” Altman says. “These students are demonstrating their depth of knowledge. They’re getting to talk about something they did and learned — that makes them stand out. Their conference presentations are great examples of how they’ve used a set of skills. It’s also a great example of what companies are looking for.”

Naylon agrees, adding she realized if she’d attended another university, she would likely not have been afforded this opportunity. “I could not let this amazing opportunity go to waste,” she adds. “At HPU, I was encouraged to step outside of my comfort zone and take a risk. … I’ve gained experience in presenting and research skills, which will help me later on in my college career and when I enter the job market. As a freshman, I’ve already taken the first steps in building my resume.”

It’s a message that Altman echoes. Critical thinking.

Communication. Problem solving. Students who have continued with research in college have proven to become poised, prepared and ready to take on their future careers. “By the time our students graduate, they’ll have five or six presentations behind them,” she notes. “Students with this kind of experience grow up academically faster than their peers.”

Just like sophomore Bella Grifasi, a Maryland native who is majoring in biology with a minor in psychology and

HERE’S A SAMPLING OF SCHOLARLY RESEARCH FROM STUDENTS AND FACULTY: is on the pre-physician assistant path. While she’s just in her second year of college, Grifasi has not only completed Research Rookies, she’s now been deemed a “Research Apprentice” — and is excited about her future research prospects.

From day one, Grifasi — who learned about academic research from a presentation given by Altman at a Presidential Scholars weekend — became immersed in Research Rookies and found it to be the pivotal start to her research career at HPU. “I developed a wide variety of foundational skills and acquired a deep understanding of what research is all about through the program,” she says.

“Thanks to the program, Dr. Alex Marshall, assistant professor of basic pharmaceutical sciences, reached out to Dr. Altman looking for undergraduate research students who had completed Research Rookies. I was interested in interviewing with Dr. Marshall because of his research topic — researching the effects of alcohol on the brain,” Grifasi explains.

“Dr. Marshall’s research could have the possibility to go above and beyond to figure out how ethanol affects the neuroimmune system, and how experts can hopefully develop pharmaceutical drugs to fix this in the near future.”

Grifasi’s work has paid off — she was recently awarded the George T. Barthalmus Undergraduate Research Grant. The money will go toward buying necessary supplies for her research analysis on “The Impact of Ethanol on Microglial Activation.” She plans to present the project at the State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research Symposium in November 2018.

Now juggling several projects at once, Grifasi notes the skills she’s learning are both surprising and rewarding.

“There’s a type of unexplainable focus that I’ve come to utilize in the lab. These projects have pushed me to become a patient, observational and diligent worker,” she explains. “From these research experiences, I hope to continue to learn how to become the most tenacious, diligent, hard-working version of myself. This growing version of myself will be an immense help in furthering my maturity and drive to do my best work after college.” ▲

Video Game for Hearing Impaired Dan St. Germain, a senior from Massachusetts majoring in game design, along with a group of students, designed an original video game, LEVY, with unique accessibility specifically for the hearing impaired. LEVY is a CLUE-inspired murder mystery story that has the player take control of a sentient elevator. By bringing players to different floors and paying careful attention to what is on each floor and what the guests say to each other, the player must determine the killer before he or she gets away with it. He had the opportunity to present a demonstration of the game in the United Kingdom.

LEVY is now available for free download in beta state and can be found via Twitter @LEVY_thegame.

Opiate Replacement Research Dr. Scott Hemby, chair of basic pharmaceutical sciences in the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy, is one of several scientists researching kratom, a plant that has been used as a replacement for opiates like morphine. Hemby is studying two compounds of kratom in his lab at HPU, one of which has shown evidence in reducing opiate abuse, and another, which has addictive properties and can increase opiate abuse. Hemby discussed his research on PBS NewsHour Weekend and CNN.

Lowering Antibiotic Resistance HPU professors are addressing a major global health concern by exploring ways to overcome antibioticresistant bacteria. In an article published by the journal Heliyon, Dr. Patrick Vigueira, assistant professor of biology, and Dr. Meghan Blackledge, assistant professor of chemistry, demonstrate that amoxapine, an FDA-approved antidepressant, has the ability to lower the antibiotic resistance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. Blackledge and Dr. Heather Miller, assistant professor of chemistry, are further evaluating amoxapine and structurally related compounds to understand how they work to reverse antibiotic resistance and to design more potent compounds for therapeutic development. Their students have presented projects on this work at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.

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WHY THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT MATTERS IN RESEARCH

By Dr. Mary Jayne Kennedy,

Chair of the Department of Clinical Sciences in the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy Four million babies are born every year in the United States, and nearly 400,000 are born prematurely.

These premature infants need special care and medicine to survive, such as antibiotics to treat life-threatening infections they acquire at birth.

However, the most common antibiotics used to treat infections in newborns can damage kidney cells and prevent them from developing normally. As a result, the kidneys might not work as well and the baby may have reduced kidney function that can last a lifetime.

That leaves 400,000 families every year making this heartwrenching decision: Do I give my child a medication that will save their life but potentially damage their kidneys, causing lifelong complications?

As a pediatric clinical pharmacist, this is something I experienced daily in the neonatal intensive care unit. This 44

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motivated me to find a solution so that no parent would ever have to make that decision again.

If I could figure out which babies were susceptible to kidney damage before they were given treatment, I could possibly prevent the injury. Then I could safely treat the baby with the medication needed to save their life.

My research team considered all the biomedical advances over the last few decades. Surely there was some sort of technology that could help us. And there was. The only problem was that those technologies required something we didn’t have — blood. The average premature baby only has 100 milliliters of blood circulating throughout their entire body. That's the amount of a travel size liquid you're allowed to pack on an airplane.

So, we got creative. We asked ourselves, “Is there something that might give us the same information as a blood sample, but is more accessible and easier to obtain?”

That’s when things got interesting.

The average premature newborn uses about 10 diapers a day, and those diapers contain a lot of urine. To most people, used diapers are simply garbage or waste. But to us, those diapers represented possibility — an opportunity to collect data and answer questions.

Using these diapers and three simple tools — scissors, a syringe and a conical tube, we recovered 85 to 90 percent of the urine. Using something that was going to be thrown away, we analyzed all of the proteins in a baby’s urine sample through gel electrophoresis.

Urine is made by the kidney, and the kidney is what we were interested in. On the surface, it made sense. But no one had ever used urine from a premature baby’s diaper for this type of research.

We compared the proteins in urine from babies with and without kidney damage and identified more than 30 proteins that differed between the two groups. These proteins were all potential predictors or biomarkers of kidney damage.

Our research team had to make a decision. Were we willing to challenge the industry standard of using blood samples?

Were we willing to take a risk and invest our time, money and energy into a project that might fail?

We also isolated DNA from the urine to identify potential

“Our research team had to make a decision…

Were we willing to be true entrepreneurs?”

– Dr. Mary Jayne Kennedy, Chair of the Department of Clinical Sciences in the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy

Were we willing to be true entrepreneurs?

The answers to those questions came easily when we focused on our values. Although it’s nice to receive grant money, to have research published and to be recognized for our work, the real reason we do what we do is the babies and the families who entrust their care to us. If we weren’t willing to take this risk, who would?

So we bought a lot of diapers and got to work.

Then came our next hurdle. Most diapers on the market are really good at keeping urine in with a gel-based substance. For parents, that’s great. For us, not so much.

We had to find the right diaper that would allow us to extract a viable sample.

We found a brand of diaper called Tushies. It was small enough to fit premature babies without harming our sample.

When the company that made Tushies went out of business, I used the rest of my grant money to buy all of the diapers they had left. And I accepted my position here at HPU with one condition — that the university would move and store the diapers. I’m pretty sure I’m the only faculty member who has made such a request!

genetic markers of kidney damage. This data could tell us which babies were likely to develop kidney damage and which weren’t — all from a method no one had ever used and a process that had never been described.

More importantly, we removed an existing barrier towards progress in this research area. And our work enabled us and others to find answers to this and other important research questions.

This journey taught me why the entrepreneurial spirit matters in research.

There is a common misconception that entrepreneurship is confined to the business world. And that’s simply not true. As author Tim Ferriss so elegantly stated, “An entrepreneur isn’t someone who owns a business.

It’s someone who makes things happen.”

I’ve learned to challenge myself, my colleagues and my students with a simple question: What are we going to make happen today? ▲

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Lessons in Leadership With President Nido Qubein and General Colin Powell

President Nido Qubein interviews some of the world’s most influential thought leaders and change agents who are drawn to the High Point University campus. Their conversations focus on leadership, innovation and values that prepare HPU students to lead lives of success and significance. These topics are also the focus of the President’s Seminar on Life Skills, which he teaches to all freshmen.

The interviews are open to the entire community, filmed in front of a live audience, aired on public television, and shared online with viewers around the world. An excerpt of Qubein’s interview with General Colin Powell, former secretary of state, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and national security advisor, is printed below. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity and can be viewed in its entirety at highpoint.edu/series.

Q A &

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Qubein: General Powell, welcome to High Point University. You’re a man of great influence and an embodiment of the American dream. What is the American dream to you?

How would you define the American dream to an aspiring 17-year-old entering college?

POWELL: It’s a very simple proposition, and I talk about it all the time. It’s essentially one of the few countries in the world where if you came here as an immigrant, or if you were born into modest circumstances, you have a chance to go to the top. If you believe in yourself, if you work hard, if our country keeps evolving into a more perfect union, then you have a chance to go up. But you’ve got to believe. You’ve got

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to get an education, you’ve got to be your own role model, and that’s what makes us different.

The American dream is something our founding fathers gave us.

Qubein: What is your definition of patriotism?

POWELL: Believing in this country and being willing to serve it. And in my case, willing to die for it. But at the same time, understanding that as wonderful as our country is, it has flaws. And we should work together to try to find solutions to these flaws and problems.

Patriotism means teamwork on a national level by compromising to move the country forward.

Qubein: Your whole life has been about teamwork. How does one create meaningful, purposeful teamwork in a corporation, organization, university or community?

POWELL: First, you have to try and understand the strengths and weaknesses of people. They’re not cookie cutter. You have to constantly work with human beings.

Leadership is all about human interaction. What I’ve always tried to do with respect to teamwork is to treat everybody in an organization as valuable, and make sure they have the chance to achieve their purpose and their dreams while they’re achieving the organization’s purpose and dreams. And if you get people moving like that, moving and harmonic because they know what you want of them, you will get teams that will do anything you ask of them, and they will keep you out of trouble.

Qubein: I want your definition of leadership. What are some characteristics of a good leader?

POWELL: Leadership is the ability to put a group of human beings into an environment where they want to do what you need done. They believe in you, and they trust you.

You trust them, and you believe in them. Empathy. A sense of purpose — you know where you want to take people. You need the willingness to fight for your followers, to recognize them and to give an organization high standards. And, at the same time, to discipline in the sense that when people aren’t getting it done for you, move them on. Move them somewhere else.

Qubein: What would be the two or three pieces of advice that you would give a young person who’s going to have a life of both success, as you’ve had, but of equal importance, a life of significance if the success is to have any meaning?

What would you say to them?

Access to Innovators

Condoleezza Rice 66th Secretary of State

Tom Brokaw

Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient, Journalist

POWELL: I’d say to them first of all, as you complete your education, and when you are deciding what to do with that education, make sure you’re doing something that you love. And if you don’t find it the first time around, keep looking. Position and money are nice, but it’s not as important as doing something that you love — something that gives you satisfaction and opportunity for success every single day. And if you also do it well, and you usually do well at the things you love, then that’s the thing for you. Secondly, you’ll find that success is best shared. And so, as part of your life, make sure you are doing something for others.

Qubein: Do you have any regrets?

POWELL: Who doesn’t? I don’t have serious regrets over the course of my life. For one, I’ve had a successful life. And two, I’ve always gone through life trying to be a success every day. The reason I joined the Army wasn’t to be a general. I came into the Army to be a soldier, and I wanted to be a good soldier. And, if I succeeded every day, then that was enough. I didn’t have to become a general or anything else. I just had to find success every day. And if I had a bad day, I’d regret that.

But I would move on. That’s why I try to talk to students in the same way that you do. It’s like calculus. You’re the combination of everything under that curve. So, don’t think you can look to one single thing, one single success or one single loss. You’re the product of everything that ever happened to you. The good things, the bad things, the people you liked working for, the people you detested working for. It’s all part of your learning experience. I learned as much from the people I didn’t get along with as I did from the ones I loved dearly.

That’s what life is all about. ▲

High Point University students learn from world-renowned thought leaders who are attracted to HPU’s campus. Below is just a sampling of the distinguished individuals who’ve visited. Watch HPU President Nido Qubein interview these and others for HPU’s Innovator Series online at highpoint.edu/series.

Steve Wozniak Apple Co-Founder, HPU’s Innovator in Residence

Biz Stone

Twitter Co-Founder

Marc Randolph Netflix Co-Founder, HPU’s Entrepreneur in Residence

Carol Dweck

Standford University Professor of Psychology, Author of “Mindset”

Malcolm Gladwell

New York Times Best-Selling Author

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Parent Perspective: What Future HPU Parents Need to Know College is a crucial time in a young adult’s life. Which campus will be the best home for them? Who will be their mentors? How can they make the most of the next four years? And while high school students must consider these questions when choosing their school, HPU knows that parents are working alongside them, diligently searching for the same answers.

Gain insight below from a current university parent who has experienced firsthand the opportunities that await you and your child at HPU.

Meet Tom Schorn of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

As a father of three HPU students, Schorn has earned the opportunity to share what he calls “veteran insights.”

From left to right: Sylvester, Thomas, Tom and Chris Schorn.

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Q. Why were you drawn to HPU? A. In 2008, President Nido Qubein gave a talk at one of my company meetings in Raleigh, North Carolina. To say I was impressed would be an understatement. He discussed HPU and the changes the school had undergone. I continued to follow HPU over the next six years, and in 2014, when my eldest son and I were looking at schools, HPU was on the need-to-visit list. When we visited the university in the spring of 2014, we were extremely impressed by the campus, its environment and the people we met. There’s one thing I heard that day, and it’s still as memorable to me now as if it was said yesterday. During the tour, as our tour guide was driving us, I asked her if she could show us something mediocre. She stopped the golf cart, looked me in the eyes and said — “ This is High Point University. We don’t have anything mediocre.” How accurate she was.

Q. Since attending HPU, have you seen positive changes or growth in your children?

A. I have seen many changes in both my sons. They have become more confident, more willing to take risks and much more willing to be involved in activities outside of the classroom and the university. Their life skills have been enhanced to a level that I didn’t expect. The excitement of my middle son when he started to work on a project with Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak translated into a desire to increase his academic performance. My eldest son becoming part of the Professional Sales Club and attending a Sales Competition while a sophomore took him out of his comfort zone, which he’s never re-entered. They’re accumulating a long list of life skills that will undoubtedly pay off when they begin their career searches.

Q. If there is one thing that sets HPU apart, what would it be?

A. While the facilities and grounds are unmatched, it’s the culture of HPU that sets the university apart from any other school we visited. My children have been able to receive their education surrounded by people who truly care about them both in and out of the classroom. Even more impressive is that this university cares about our family. I recently had a health scare that fortunately resulted in a positive ending. My children left quickly to get home, but prior to leaving HPU, visited their success coach to make

him aware of the situation. Their success coach called me the next day in the hospital. After a very meaningful discussion, he told me that if anything happened, he would be there to look after my children. As my children’s only parent, I had a feeling of extreme relief. The culture of HPU attracts the best people who care about our children and our family.

Q. If you could offer advice to other HPU parents, what would it be?

A. My advice to all parents is to push your children to take advantage of the many activities that the university offers.

What my sons have learned outside the classroom is equally as important as the academics. In addition, make sure your children are working with their success coach as frequently as possible. Parents should also get to know and be involved with their child’s coach — we consider my sons’ success coaches a part of our family. Also, make the effort to know the administrators, and get involved by attending Family Weekends where you’ll get to know other parents. I also recommend supporting the university however possible.

The more you are involved, the more your children will benefit and grow into the adult you hope they become.

Q. What has been your most memorable experience on campus?

A. I have so many memorable experiences during the last four years. It is difficult to select just one. And, I am already looking forward to all of the memories I’ll build over the next four years when my next child joins the Class of 2022 in August. However, if forced to select only one, I would say my most memorable was my first Convocation in 2014. The pomp and circumstance was impressive, but also so personal. The students sitting together for the first time, the entrance of the faculty, the eagle’s flight, and at the end, Dr. Qubein telling parents it is time to leave and entrust their students with HPU. As usual, Dr. Qubein provided an impressive speech. The most memorable part of this day came at the conclusion of the ceremony when my son and I were saying goodbye. The university had done such a great job at preparing him over the months leading up to his arrival, and then the impressiveness of Convocation was added to that. At that point, he was so positive that HPU was where he belonged. He was ready for me to go and to begin the process of his college education and his transformation into a successful adult. ▲

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PROFESSORS WHO ARE

INDUSTRY LEADERS

Phil Watson Brings Industry Practice to the Classroom Every year, High Point University seniors write thank you letters to the faculty members who helped them break into their dream careers.

And every year, Professor Phil Watson’s inbox is full of them.

Watson is an assistant professor in the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication. He holds an MBA from Harvard and has 25 years of experience as a business reporter and advertising executive in Los Angeles and Pittsburgh. He knows the business and builds his students’ learning experiences around it, connecting them with internship and career opportunities across the country.

Students know him first by his booming voice and endless energy, and his classes reflect his passionate personality. At 7:50 a.m. on a Tuesday, he leads students through exercises designed to teach them how to prevent or put out public relations fires fast, just like they will on the job someday.

“Communication classes are difficult because the industry is continuously evolving at such a quick pace,” says Anthony Vita, a 2016 graduate and account executive at ASTRSK, a New York City PR agency. “Professor Watson teaches from experience and makes you think critically. He immerses his students into realistic scenarios they will later encounter in their career and helps them find effective ways to handle those situations.”

As they advance in the strategic communication major, they discover the incredible amounts of time he’s willing to invest in them and their career preparation.

“Professor Watson and his case studies in strategic communication class helped me generate ideas when brainstorming on new client campaigns at work,” says 2014 graduate Summer Tonsfeldt, now an experiential marketing assistant at PMK•BNC in Hollywood, California. “It is evident that he not only cared about me as a student in a classroom

situation, but also as an individual looking to blossom in the professional world of public relations.”

Tonsfeldt and Vita are part of a large group of HPU’s alumni base who point to strong faculty mentorship as the foundation for their careers. And Watson understands how crucial faculty support is.

“I want my students to know professionals who are working in the industry every day,” Watson says. “I invite guest speakers so my students will learn what a day-in-the-life is like, but also so my students can make connections for internships. We’ve had students land internships at mind-blowing places like the NBA, Disney World, the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and other big brands. We really are committed to a hands-on, experienced-based learning model.”

More than anything, Watson wants students to discover their full potential. He remembers going live in front of the camera as a young TV reporter for the first time. He remembers cold-calling customers and meeting quotas in his years of sales. And he remembers how big the world can feel to a new graduate just starting out. But he also knows how small the world really is when you have a supportive network.

“Sometimes what students need is simply the nudge — the encouragement of a faculty member who says, ‘I believe in you,’” Watson says. “When students see that we’re willing to call our friends in the industry and recommend them for an internship or a job, when they know we’re willing to spend extra time with them each week to practice for that interview, when they know we believe in them — that’s when I see students really come into their own.”

“Professor Watson didn’t tell me what I wanted to hear, he told me what I needed to hear,” says 2014 graduate Meredith MacIver, now a district sales manager for Ashley Furniture in Los Angeles, California. “I admire Professor Watson and am lucky to have had such an influential role model in my life.” ▲

These faculty helped students land jobs and internships at impressive organizations, such as:

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TRAINING

INTERACTIVE LEARNERS Dr. Jennifer Lukow Challenges Students to Stay Competitive in Sport Management Careers in sport management are changing every day thanks to the influence of technology and globalization — and Dr. Jennifer Lukow takes that challenge as motivation to arm students with the tools necessary to load their bases, so to speak — allowing them to hit a home run when they enter the real world.

It’s easy for Lukow, associate professor of sport management at High Point University, because she’s passionate about her job and her students. She teaches courses in sport management, such as gender issues in sports, sport law and a senior seminar in sport management.

“I place a strong emphasis on interactive learning in the classroom. I feel that students learn so much more when they’re given the opportunity to discuss the concepts and issues in class,” Lukow says. “We dive deep into why an issue is occurring and how to fix or address it from the business perspective instead of just looking at it on the surface. I see my job as training students to move from being a ‘fan’ or ‘participant’ of sports into a ‘sport manager’ — and one that will be making decisions about the business side of the industry.”

Not only does Lukow make a tremendous effort on teaching and ensuring she covers as much current content as possible while digging deep into subject matter — she spends many hours outside the classroom, serving as a mentor.

“I want to get to know the students and help them learn, grow and enter the sports industry with a solid education, experiential learning on their resumes and confidence,” Lukow explains. “I genuinely care about the students in our program, and I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to help them in any way I can.”

In addition to learning in the classroom and mentoring, Lukow encourages students to obtain real-world experience through internships.

“The sports industry is unique in that employers are expecting students to have four or five internships or volunteer experiences on their resumes when they graduate,” she says. “I tell students that the moment they realize they want to pursue sport management as a career, they need to start getting experience in the field — this gives them a better chance at securing a job in the sports industry.”

Kirstie Pratt, one of Lukow’s former students, is grateful for her guidance during her years at HPU. Pratt, who graduated in 2017 with a degree in strategic communication and a minor in sport management, credits Lukow as one of the most instrumental professors in her HPU career.

“All of the faculty and staff I encountered at HPU have had an impact upon my life, but Dr. Jennifer Lukow sparked my interest in the sport management field,” says Pratt, who is now a golfer care specialist for GolfNow, a division of The Golf Channel within the NBC/Universal family. “Her mentorship continued outside of the classroom where she always encouraged me to reach out to new people in order to build relationships that could carry over into my professional life. Dr. Lukow also empowered me to set out on a professional course that will hopefully lead to a change in the gender discrepancy in the sports industry.”

It’s students like Pratt — and countless others who have gone on to have successful sport management careers in places like Fox Sports, the Philadelphia 76ers and more — that bring a smile to Lukow’s face.

“I genuinely love what I do every day,” she adds. “I love interacting with the students and seeing them grow.” ▲

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THIN SLICES

Dr. Brad Barlow, assistant professor of astrophysics, and a group of astronomy students attended the Eighth Meeting on Hot Subdwarf Stars and Related Objects, an international conference held in Krakow, Poland.

Nahed Eltantawy, associate professor of journalism, co-authored a study examining political satire in Egypt, which appeared in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Communication.

Scott Raynor, chair of art and graphic design, was named a finalist in an international competition hosted by Sunny Art Centre in London. His paintings were among the three percent of entries selected from almost 2,000.

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Gaining experience at High Point Market is one of many opportunities provided to students. Located in downtown High Point, just minutes from campus, furniture market offers students the chance to hone their professional skills through experiential learning.

THIN SLICES

Dr. Kale Yu, instructor of religion, received the 2017 United Methodist Racial/Ethnic History Research Grant. The grant supports his study of Asian immigrant churches.

History professor Dr. Philip Mulder and his family were selected as recipients of the 2017 Debora D. and Victor F. Harllee, Jr. Volunteer Award from Bookmarks, a literary arts nonprofit.

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THIN SLICES

U.S. Rep. Ted Budd visited Congdon Hall to speak with students and faculty in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies about their growing program and how to address challenges and opportunities in the health care industry.

Dr. Adam Winkel, assistant professor of Spanish, wrote an article featured in the Hispanic Studies Review that explores the boundary between public and private spaces.

Dr. Mariann Tillery, dean of the Stout School of Education at HPU, was appointed to serve on the N.C. Teaching Fellows Commission representing North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities.

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Ryan Benfield, a second-year pharmacy student at HPU, was named a recipient of the 2017 EPIC Pharmacies Student Grant Program. EPIC Pharmacies is a national network of independently owned pharmacies that awards grants to students planning to practice in an independent pharmacy upon graduation.

THIN SLICES

Dr. Joy Greene, assistant dean and professor in the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy, co-authored an article in Christian Higher Education. Greene assessed the attitudes of student pharmacists toward prayer.

Six students, along with Dr. David Bergen, chair and professor of human relations at HPU, attended the Lead365 Student Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida. The conference trip, made possible by funding from the Bernard Family Human Relations Leadership Initiative, focused on individual growth, workforce preparedness and enhanced skill building.

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INSPIRING ENVIRONMENT

Your environment matters.

Some people are motivated by an energetic atmosphere and others by quiet solitude. At High Point University, the campus has been intentionally created to inspire students to live by our call to action:

Choose to be extraordinary!

Inspiration ignites transformation of the soul. And HPU students are surrounded by the energy of cascading fountains, the innovation of dynamic video walls and giant DNA strands like the one pictured here.

This 40-foot double helix represents the transformation each student undergoes while learning to express themselves academically and personally during their time at HPU. Beyond the glass foyer of Congdon Hall, the serenity of reflecting pools and park benches is found under towering oak trees, and classical music floating in the air reminds students to take time to reflect.

Sculptures of 26 historical giants live on the International Promenade, too. From Gandhi to Rosa Parks, Albert Einstein to Shakespeare, HPU students live in an environment that compels thoughtful contemplation and worthy action.

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inspiring environment

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THE ART OF THE

POSSIBLE From the HPU campus to the world’s largest corporations, graduates gain life skills that help them thrive throughout their careers.

Don’t be intimidated by life’s obstacles.

a quiet spot to study, or my interview suit dry cleaned, or something on my stomach first thing in the morning. Even when I requested to graduate a year early, no one stood in my way.

That’s a lesson Christine DiFerdinando McKnight learned during her time at High Point University. She took it with her when she graduated, and it’s made all the difference.

“I had so much support at HPU that I graduated to face the real world with a new perspective. HPU gave me

At 22, McKnight not only launched her career, but she bought her first home, too.

When she was a student, she didn’t yet have the words to articulate how much the university was preparing her. She was in the middle of HPU’s transformational process then — majoring in nonprofit management, getting one-on-one guidance from faculty mentors who helped her grow, landing internships that offered field experience, learning on a campus committed to life skills and more.

But a light bulb went off after graduation, and she wrote a letter to HPU President Nido Qubein about her realization.

“Your students-first philosophy made me feel like everyone who makes HPU what it is was there to help me, to encourage me to succeed and to clear the way for me to shine! I worked as hard as I could, and the university was there when I needed

the positive outlook I needed to dream big dreams and achieve my goals without being intimidated by life’s obstacles.”

Her words inspired a campus landmark called the Dream Big Chairs. They stand 16-feet tall on top of the hill in Hayworth Park. Students and families climb them, spread their arms wide and take photos of themselves seemingly ready to embrace what life throws their way.

Confident. Unafraid.

A plaque explaining the chairs’ purpose includes excerpts from McKnight’s letter, echoing an important reminder to students that they, like McKnight, are free to dream big.

At HPU, they come to embrace what Qubein calls the

“Art of the Possible.”

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HPU TAUGHT ME TO HAVE A WORK ETHIC NOBODY ELSE COULD MATCH. – Tyler Yusko, ’14, Google Account Strategist

GOOGLE, APPLE, FACEBOOK – WHERE GRADUATES GO Eight High Point University graduates who represent some of the world’s biggest organizations returned to their alma mater in the spring and took the stage of the Hayworth Fine Arts Center.

Qubein interviews international leaders on this stage for HPU’s “Access to Innovators Series.” It airs on North Carolina public television, and it features prominent people like Condoleezza Rice and Gen. Colin Powell, both of whom formerly served as Secretary of State, as well as broadcast legend Tom Brokaw, Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak, Netflix Co-Founder Marc Randolph and many others.

But on this day, the innovators Qubein interviewed were HPU’s own graduates.

Jodi Guglielmi, ’15, is a writer and reporter at People Magazine in New York. She interviews celebrities like George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio and works with the industry’s top attorneys, publicists and physicians on high-profile stories.

Facebook hired James Jadotte, ’14, as an analyst for People Compliance in its human resources department in Menlo Park, California.

John Marsicano, ’15, is a public relations manager for Magnolia, the brand made famous by Chip and Joanna Gaines of HGTV’s “Fixer Upper.”

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At Google’s Manhattan office, Tyler Yusko, ’14, helps 80 brand-name clients grow their business online.

Nikki Sanford, ’13, is a patent attorney at BakerHostetler in Seattle, Washington. She double majored in math and physics at HPU and went on to graduate from William and Mary Law School.

Alex Palmer, ’13, is one of Apple’s senior software engineers in Cupertino, California.

Amazon recruited Caroline Tucker, ’17, to become their area manager in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company found Tucker on LinkedIn thanks to her polished and professional profile, which the university’s Career and Professional Development team helped her create.

And Mary Funke, ’13, who studied chemistry at HPU before being accepted into medical school at Creighton University, is now an Emergency Medicine Resident Doctor at Duke Health in Durham, North Carolina.

Qubein moderated the panel for a full audience, who came to hear how HPU prepared these graduates to tackle the “real world.”

Experiential learning opportunities were an important part of that discussion. Like Tucker who, despite her own hesitations, took the plunge to study in a new country for a

semester thanks to the guidance of faculty and HPU’s Study Abroad team.

“My most impactful moment at HPU was when I studied in Spain,” said Tucker. “It was amazing to be immersed in a different culture and to learn all the customs of the country. I left Spain with a new outlook on the world and a better understanding of Spanish culture. During my time at HPU, I learned through classes, professors and friends that I was capable of being so much more than what I gave myself credit for.”

Sanford landed a competitive internship on Capitol Hill at the U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Committee when she was an undergraduate at HPU. “High Point helps create opportunities each student can take to be extraordinary,” Sanford said. “Dr. John Mather, Nobel Prize winner in physics, funded my internship to get more scientists and physicists involved in government policy. My biggest HPU mentor, Dr. Aaron Titus of the physics

AN INTENTIONAL CAMPUS

department, encouraged me to explore my interests, whether it was undergraduate research or pursuing a law degree. He gave me opportunities to attend and present at conferences, which not only built my belief in myself, but also helped me find experiences like my internship on Capitol Hill.”

The alumni also showed the audience how HPU’s commitment to not only scholarly learning, but also life skills, helped them thrive in a competitive job market.

“What I appreciate most is the holistic approach that Dr. Qubein and the entire faculty and staff take, not only in the classroom, but also through the campus experience,” said Yusko. “He showed us that if you work as hard as you can, you can make extraordinary things happen.

“That’s what separated me in my first roles after graduation when I worked in real estate and at Yelp in New York. I knew it wasn’t just about sheer intelligence. I had to have a work ethic nobody else could match.”

Your present circumstances don’t determine where you go; they merely determine where you start.

That’s a quote from HPU President Nido Qubein that Tyler Yusko, a 2014 strategic communication graduate, carries with him in his work today as an account strategist at Google’s New York office.

There are 80 brand-name clients on his list of accounts to manage.

Each morning, when Yusko walks into the sleek Manhattan office of one of the world’s most innovative companies, it reminds him of HPU’s campus.

There are glass walls all around. The resources to support employees are abundant, from bright spaces designed to generate creativity and productivity, to complimentary food.

And the philosophy that people rise to the level of their environment is everywhere — at HPU and Google.

Yusko appreciated the HPU campus as a student. But now that he works for Google, he

understands its context to the real world more than ever before.

“Google is similar to HPU in that the company provides an environment that shows its employees the utmost respect,” Yusko says. “But at the same time, everyone here is motivated to work hard and determined to do big things.

Everyone here has incredible drive.”

Yusko puts the life skills he gained at HPU into practice daily and returns to campus often, where he reminds students how special their HPU education is.

“HPU instilled the utmost confidence in me,” he says. “The campus environment taught me not to take anything for granted. In places like HPU and Google, the sky is the limit for those who work hard.”

It’s true that visitors first notice the beauty of HPU’s campus. But when students live here and learn here, they understand that each corner is designed intentionally to help them thrive as they pursue their personal and professional goals.

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EMBRACING THE UNKNOWN These eight professionals are a snapshot of graduates working at top companies, but their success is the university’s standard. At HPU, 96 percent of alumni launch their career or begin graduate school within six months of receiving their degree.

They reflect HPU’s mission to prepare students for the world as it is going to be, and they embody the beliefs McKnight wrote in her letter.

“Life skills, experiences that include trial and error, and the benefit of having learned from leaders most only read about — that’s the art of the possible. That’s innovation at its core,” Qubein said during the event.

“Consider how HPU brings industry leaders like Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak to our campus. When we do that, students learn the most important lesson of all: the art of the possible. No longer is he the genius behind Apple Computer, but he is a real person and a mentor to them.

They learn the simple notion that they, too, can do it.”

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Qubein encourages students to think about it this way: How fast will the technical skills that they learn in college change after they graduate?

The business news outlet Quartz reported that almost all of the 10 million jobs created since 2005 were temporary. Their findings show how rapidly the American work environment is changing. Technical skills can become obsolete almost as quickly as they’re learned.

HIGH POINT HELPS CREATE OPPORTUNITIES EACH STUDENT CAN TAKE TO BE EXTRAORDINARY. – Nikki Sanford, ’13, Attorney in Seattle

But study after study, from Barclays to the Carnegie Institute of Technology, finds that technical skills aren’t employers’ primary concern. Rather, it’s life skills — the ability to communicate, build relationships, adapt, think critically, anticipate and solve problems.

HPU leaders know this.

They’ve built a distinct educational model that instills in students the type of skills that will pay dividends throughout their lives.

Like Sanford. Her dream to become a patent attorney

ALUMNA’S LETTER INSPIRES DREAM BIG CHAIRS This letter was written by Christine DiFerdinando McKnight to HPU President Nido Qubein after McKnight graduated in 2008.

Dear Dr. Qubein, My name is Christine DiFerdinando, and I graduated from HPU in the spring of 2008. I knew I’d be writing this letter to you someday about how the school has changed my life, but I didn’t expect it would be this soon.

began when she was an undergraduate math and physics major at HPU. Through her studies, she developed a desire to improve the intersection between science and government policy.

Six months after graduation, I bought my first home all by myself, but I never would have reached that goal as a 22-year-old if not for the most important thing I took away from my time at HPU.

Getting there was a complex path that required her to be a good scientist, communicate the complexities of her field to a variety of state and national policy makers and make it into one of the nation’s top law schools. HPU helped her get there. Today, she contributes to the legal process of patenting and protecting important scientific discoveries and inventions.

The HPU experience was not only beneficial in the moment, but it gave me the feeling that “the world is not out to get me.” Most freshmen, myself included, first arrived on campus feeling defensive toward adults and grasping for control of our own lives. But your students-come-first philosophy made me feel like the faculty, administration and everyone else that makes HPU what it is were only there to help me, to encourage me to succeed and to clear the way for me to shine!

“HPU students choose to seize the many opportunities offered to them,” Sanford says.

Sanford, McKnight and their fellow alumni discovered the art of the possible at HPU. They learned not to be intimidated by life’s obstacles, but, instead, define their own dreams and tirelessly pursue them.

“Students need to hear someone say, ‘You can do this,’” Qubein says. “They need to believe they can be extraordinary.

It was the opportunity I’d been waiting for! I worked as hard as I could, and the university was there when I needed a quiet spot to study, or my interview suit dry cleaned, or something on my stomach first thing in the morning. Even when I requested to graduate a year early, no one stood in my way!

“And being extraordinary is a choice anyone can make for themselves.” ▲

FOLLOW

I had so much support in my small world at HPU that I graduated to face the real world with a new perspective. HPU gave me the positive outlook I needed to dream big dreams and strive to achieve my goals without being intimidated by life’s obstacles.

THE SUCCESS OF GRADUATES

To see where more HPU graduates are commencing impressive careers or continuing their education at top-tier graduate schools, go to:

Thank you! It has made all the difference.

Sincerely, Christine DiFerdinando McKnight Business Intelligence Architect at Almac Group in Philadelphia

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GRADUATES

POWERING GLOBAL COMPANIES High Point University is connecting graduates to work at some of the world’s leading companies. Their passionate pursuits reflect HPU’s promise: When we enroll a student, we commit to their success. Here is a sampling of graduates who are contributing to the companies and technologies that impact your world every day.

Caroline Tucker, ’17 Amazon Area Manager in Charlotte, North Carolina Tucker leads a team of Amazon Associates by motivating, mentoring and assisting the team to ensure safety, quality, attendance, performance and engagement during each shift for every Amazon Associate. Amazon directly recruited her on LinkedIn during the fall semester of her senior year thanks to the high quality education she received at HPU, as well as guidance from HPU’s Career and Professional Development team on building her resume and LinkedIn profile.

James Jadotte, ’13 Facebook Analyst for People Compliance in California While studying business administration at HPU, Jadotte landed a stellar internship at JetBlue Airways within their People (Human Resources) Department. After three consecutive internships with the company, he was hired into a full-time role after graduation.

In 2016, Jadotte was recruited by Facebook to join their People Compliance team.

Tyler Yusko, ’14 Google Account Strategist in New York At Google’s New York office, Yusko manages dozens of brand name clients who are seeking to grow their business online. He also spent time at Douglas Elliman and Yelp prior to Google. He received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from HPU and worked closely with the university’s Career and Professional Development team to land multiple job offers before graduation.

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Jodi Guglielmi, ’15 People Magazine Writer and Reporter in New York People Magazine relies on Guglielmi for investigative journalism and reporting in all aspects of the entertainment industry. She has interviewed A-list stars, such as George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio, and works with the industry’s top attorneys, publicists, physicians and more. Guglielmi served as Editor in Chief of HPU’s Campus Chronicle.

John Marsicano, ’15 Magnolia Public Relations Specialist in Waco, Texas Marsicano works alongside one of America’s most beloved couples — Chip and Joanna Gaines, the stars of HGTV’s “Fixer Upper” and founders of Magnolia, a home and lifestyle brand based in Waco, Texas. He is involved in the brand’s overall media strategy and works with national news outlets to share company news and major announcements. Marsicano began his career with Jackson Spalding, one of the largest independent communications and marketing agencies in the Southeast, immediately after he graduated from HPU. He moved to Waco to join the Magnolia team two years later.

Alex Palmer, ’13 Apple Senior Software Engineer in Cupertino, California Palmer studied computer science at HPU and landed interviews with Google and IBM before graduation. He chose to begin his career at dunnhumby USA, one of the world’s top data analytics firms in the retail sector. In 2014, he accepted a position at Apple Inc. in Cupertino, California.

Russ Salakhutdinov, ’01 Apple’s First-Ever Artificial Intelligence Research Director Salakhutdinov earned his international business degree from HPU and has led a decorated career since graduation. He completed his postdoctoral work at MIT and served as a tenured associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University before pioneering artificial intelligence research at Apple Inc.

Ryan Kaika, ’15 Hewlett-Packard Enterprise New Business Sales Associate in California Immediately following his graduation from HPU’s Phillips School of Business, Kaika accepted a position with Hewlett-Packard Enterprise in Roseville, California. Kaika represents the strong relationship HPU has with the company — several other graduates have been hired by the technology giant as well.

Hayden Rockwell, ’13 Snapchat Senior Story Editor in New York After receiving her degree from HPU’s Nido R. Qubein School of Communication, Rockwell worked at The Huffington Post in New York City before making her leap to one of the world’s top social media platforms. Forbes has named her to its “30 Under 30” list of leaders in the industry.

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Cottrell Amphitheater Waterfall

Magnolia stellata ‘Chrysanthemumiflora’

A Growing Reminder

How the Mariana H. Qubein Botanical Gardens and Arboretum inspire reflection

Like High Point University itself, the Mariana H. Qubein Botanical Gardens and Arboretum are noticeably beautiful. But every aspect of their design, from their collections to their colors and size, also serves an important purpose on campus.

PLANTS WITH PURPOSE

They are a refuge and respite from the day-to-day for students. They are learning tools for classes.

They are a haven for wildlife.

“They only know the few that might be in mainstream commerce and are astounded by the diversity out there,” says Roethling, curator of the gardens and arboretum. “I seek out all these lesser-known plants and selections so others might become aware of them. The same can be said for education. There is a basic set of knowledge that most are exposed to, but people who are truly extraordinary seek out more and delve deeper into things.”

Comprised of 26 different gardens and 3,700 recorded taxa, of which more than 700 are trees, the HPU gardens invite passersby to slow down, reflect and admire the beauty they encounter.

Benches beckon visitors to relax. Quotations selected by students provide moments for reflection. Walkways that connect students from one building to the next are lined with blooms — a reminder to pause and appreciate.

And within these gardens that spread throughout campus are various collections, each one having its own story.

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When Jon Roethling describes HPU’s collections and the number of magnolias, azaleas or any other varieties they include, people tell him that they never knew there were so many.

Additions to the plant collections and expansion of the gardens is a continuous process. These collections continue to distinguish HPU from other campuses. International groups such as the Magnolia Society International and the International Plant Propagators Society have visited campus to admire the collections, bringing national recognition with them.

Roethling knows that gardening is both an art and a science. Plants serve a variety of purposes, like feeding the body. But of equal importance, they feed the soul.

“I am proud of all our gardens and collections on campus as they have accomplished the goal of having them — beauty, knowledge, research, intrigue and reflection.”

– Mariana Qubein, HPU First Lady, who spearheaded the gardens and arboretum

Crinum ‘Fiesta’

Science has proven that shrubs, trees and flowers have a practical application in hospitals. The soothing effect of plants is so great that having daily views of flowers in landscaped areas outside a patient’s recovery room significantly speeds up recovery time.

At HPU, spiritual growth on campus continues through the collections. They blanket the campus in a bounty of beautiful color, but also serve as an important reminder for students and visitors to pause and reflect.

A COLLABORATIVE COLLECTION HPU will soon boast one of the largest magnolia collections in North Carolina thanks to the Steel Magnolias. This active group of alumni women who graduated from 1953 to 1980 has led the campaign of more than 100 magnolia trees sponsored on campus.

They also have established an endowment that supports the long-term care of the trees.

There are nine total collections on campus, and some of them stand in honor and memory of those who have served the gardens over the years.

The campus is filled with 171 different magnolias, the second largest magnolia collection in the state. Lining walkways and framing buildings, they’re an on-campus reminder of the power produced through collaboration.

Like the Gerald Smith Rain Lily collection, named for a retired biology professor. Rain lilies were part of Smith’s research, and he authored an article on rain lily treatments, published in the book “Flora of North America.”

Led by their president, Anne Kerr Walker, in collaboration with Roethling, the Steel Magnolias have set a goal of adding 200 different magnolias to the collection within five years.

Then, there’s the Raylene Fealy Crinum Collection, named for the wife of retired High Point Chief of Police Jim Fealy.

Raylene Fealy is a dedicated volunteer and supporter of the gardens. As a gift to his wife for her support through his tenure, Chief Fealy reached out for the chance to honor her through the gardens.

Many individuals and groups have given to the collection, and each new magnolia is planted with a plaque of recognition.

Other collections around campus include the magnolia, redbud, dogwood, evergreen azalea, deciduous azalea, deciduous holly and flowering cherry collections.

Students, faculty and visitors are reminded of the hard work that others have committed to the gardens with plaques that note their presence. They’re reminded of the importance and beauty that come from dedication and persistence.

These trees have meaning. They’re an example of how the HPU gardens grow more than just plants — they grow the legacy of university family members and the values on which HPU is built.

“I have donated three trees in memory of my husband, my sister and my brother,” says Walker. “Everyone has a different reason for supporting these trees, but whatever the reason, it is a wonderful idea and a beautiful thing to do.” ▲

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HPU CHAPEL AND RELIGIOUS LIFE:

FINDING COMMON GROUND No matter their faith, HPU students celebrate in many ways.

They write, sing, volunteer, eat, play flag football and console one another.

Here are some of their stories.

GOD IN THE TRIAD In his head, as clear as a cloudless day, Justin Frederick said he heard a voice say: “Remember always that I love you.

Remember always that I’m with you.”

That moment came during a weeklong pilgrimage he and seven other HPU students took last fall. They visited churches and outreach programs in three cities surrounding campus — High Point, Greensboro and Winston-Salem.

Known as God in the Triad, the pilgrimage helped Frederick dive deeper in his faith. At a church’s flower labyrinth, Frederick felt that happen.

“I can describe how the pilgrimage affected me with one word — transformation,” says Frederick, a pre-pharmacy sophomore from Norwalk, Connecticut. “I’m a changed young man.”

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BOARD OF STEWARDS They’re the backbone of HPU’s Chapel and Religious Life Office.

The 25 members of HPU’s Board of Stewards help host Wednesday night chapel, volunteer around High Point and help distribute the chapel’s weekly offerings to a local nonprofit.

Last fall, they created Christmas for at least 150 local kids.

JEWISH LIFE HPU has at least 150 Jewish students on campus, or 3 percent of the university’s population.

Some belong to Hillel, the world’s largest Jewish campus organization.

Some don’t. Still, they all find the common ground of tradition in various Jewish events organized on campus.

They come together to celebrate.

But they also pray for each other.

Like Maddie Stoltzfus, a senior from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, majoring in human relations.

Like Hanukkah, the eight-day celebration honoring the rededication centuries ago of the Second Temple of Jerusalem.

After she joined the board as a sophomore, her mom had a bad car accident. Her fellow board members prayed for her mom to recover. She did.

Jordan Kenter loves it. She’s the HPU president of Hillel, a junior from Atlanta, Georgia, majoring in exercise science.

Every December, Kenter gets to teach others about her religion and share good food.

“They held my heart,” Stoltzfus says.

“They’re my safe place.”

Moreover, she remembers tradition.

For her, that’s important.

“Here, I found a community that is accepting of who I am and will keep me accountable in my walk with Christ.”

– Kirsten Ellis, a senior from Durham, North Carolina

COLLEGE LIFE They sing, create skits and even hold a doughnut-eating contest on the Kester International Promenade.

But members of College Life also share their thoughts about God. They’re a non-denominational group with at least 85 members, and they use their creativity and talent to help their members become comfortable professing their faith.

For Kirsten Ellis, a senior sport management major from Durham, North Carolina, that is so welcoming.

“In high school, I always felt like you were walking on egg shells,” says Ellis, the group’s vice president. “But here, I found a community that is accepting of who I am and will keep me accountable in my walk with Christ.”

MUSLIM LIFE

INFINITE SPACE

For Aqib Malik, flag football is a spiritual icebreaker.

Sarah Leonard joined because of an overheard conversation.

He’s already talked to 20 of his HPU friends. They’re up for it. So, this year, Malik plans to put together a flag football tournament on campus to expose more people to what he wants to do — create an HPU Muslim student association.

The Rev. Preston Davis, university minister, was talking about HPU’s new student-run faith journal, Infinite Space. The magazine would contain student essays, poems and photographs that detail their stance on faith, questions and more.

He’ll open it to everyone because Malik, a biochemistry major from High Point, wants people to understand the love and peace behind his faith.

“Growing up in this day and age, I’ve met mischaracterizations of Islam,” he says, “and I want people to see what my faith truly is and not base it on the action of others.”

But Davis had a problem. He needed an editor.

Leonard, a junior English major from Hudson, Ohio, jumped in.

Last year, with the help of co-editor Robert Collier, Leonard put in countless hours to help create Infinite Space. The inaugural issue came out last April.

Next up? The second issue this spring.

Leonard liked the creativity of it all — and something else.

“This project (Infinite Space) gave me strength,” says Leonard, raised Presbyterian.

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NOURISHING BODY, MIND AND Soul Christian Froelich provides the fuel students need to succeed.

Students gather around the dining table in the sleek kitchen of Caffey Hall, the newest residential facility on campus. Their teacher is Executive Chef Christian Froelich. His goal is to teach them the art of making dough from scratch.

Froelich knows that dining at HPU is about more than just feeding hungry students. It’s about creating relationships and providing the nutrition students need to thrive.

Sometimes it’s a hot meal on a chilly day. Sometimes it’s a cooking class where students can relax after a long day of exams.

That’s where Froelich comes in. As executive chef, his responsibilities include planning the menus at all 14 dining locations on campus. It’s his goal to make sure students feel educated about the food he serves. Providing gluten and allergy sensitive foods are some of the many ways he ensures everyone enjoys their dining experience.

His “Teaching Kitchens” allow students who may have only seen each other in passing to bond while learning to make meals from scratch with quality ingredients. This creates a sense of community and belonging among students. The classes also provide students, like sophomore Matt Carty, with a culinary skill that they use in their daily lives.

“Chef Christian is a really down-to-earth kind of guy,” says Carty. “He makes the Teaching Kitchen a fun and beneficial experience. I always look forward to working with him.”

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ingredients can make all the difference in providing students with a nutritious meal on campus.

“We serve students every day, so all our customers here are ‘regulars’,” he says.

He has led kitchens in hotels and big cities and operated his own restaurant where he once hosted leaders from campus.

HPU’s culture stood out to him and attracted him to be part of the university’s hospitality team.

Ask him about his job, and he’ll praise the positive environment on campus that inspires him to be the best every day. It’s what drew him to HPU. Froelich is especially proud to work among upbeat professionals. His staff take the time to build relationships with the students they serve.

The students are what inspire him and his team members to strive for excellence.

“It’s not just that we want to be the best at what we do. It’s really who we are. We believe in our mission,” says Froelich.

Students do, too.

Carty always feels welcome at The Point Sports Grill on campus, where burgers, wings and milkshakes are part of the menu, along with open dining space that brings students together for lunch and dinner. It’s his favorite dining location.

“The staff are the friendliest people you will ever meet. They are the reason I always go to The Point,” says Carty. “Every time I walk in, they greet me with a smile, make me feel welcome and are always up for having a conversation.”▲

COMMITTED TO EXCELLENT CARE STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM HAVING ACCESS TO EXPERIENCED ON-CAMPUS HEALTH PROVIDERS. The staff of the on-campus Student Health Services at HPU can empathize. They know it’s hard for students to be away from home during sickness or an ongoing medical condition. As mothers, they also know how hard it is for parents to be away from their sons and daughters when they aren’t feeling well.

That’s why they are committed to providing extraordinary care that puts both students and parents at ease.

HPU is one of only three private universities in the state to have a full-time physician serving as medical doctor. Dr. Marnie Marlette leads the team of physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses and certified medical assistants who see student patients for anything from treating acute illnesses to helping manage chronic medical concerns.

Marlette came to HPU with years of medical practice, including opening and running her own office, as well as a passion to serve students.

“Working on a college campus, we have a special opportunity, not only to treat students’ physical conditions, but to help them learn to navigate health care in the real world,” says Marlette.

“What’s a referral? How does insurance work? Many of the students we work with are young and healthy. They haven’t had much experience with it. We are here to guide them gently through the process and help them become more independent and confident in advocating for their health.”

The staff of 11 works together to offer medical examinations, treatment of illnesses and injuries, referrals to specialists, immunizations, laboratory testing, 24-hour nurse phone support, same-day appointments and more.

Marlette says they are the bridge assisting students with their health until the next time they can see their home doctor.

Their patients are comforted knowing they have a place close by on campus where they can receive timely, quality care.

“I’ve always trusted their professional care and have gotten responses right away when I need them,” says student Sarah Berkowitz. “They also do a great job of checking up with me after I visit. Everyone in the office displays great interpersonal communication skills, which helps me feel comfortable and develop a relationship with them.”

The staff typically goes above and beyond to help students get prescription refills, access transportation to off-campus appointments and coordinate health-related services with other campus departments. As a Wake Health affiliate, the office also assists students with getting referrals within a whole network of specialists.

Michelle Soto, the clinical coordinator, says she has seen her coworkers bring an incredible amount of compassion and experience to their roles. A certified medical assistant, Soto has worked at HPU for four years but has more than 28 years of experience in health care working in pediatrics, gynecology, emergency and neonatal intensive care.

“We’re here with the sole purpose of making sure the students are well taken care of and on a healthy path,” she says. “We think of them in the same way as our own children and extend the same level of care we’d want for them. We’re always here to help, so we urge students and parents to use this resource.”

“We’re a great team with a wealth of knowledge working together to treat whoever comes through the door right here when they need care so they don’t have to go anywhere else,” says physician assistant Alicia Bouska. “We’re not just medical providers, but caregivers in every sense of the word, and we’re focused on the particular needs of college students and dedicated to serving them.” ▲

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THIN SLICES

HPU awarded $10,000 in prizes at its Third Annual Piano Competition, which featured three internationally renowned pianists. Lin Ye (left) won first place and $5,000; Rixiang Huang (middle) won second place and $3,000; and Huan Zhang (right) received third place and $2,000.

The Department of Theatre presented the musical “Cabaret,” which is set in 1930’s Berlin. The musical explores a crumbling Germany that is easily seduced by entertainment and tempted to look the other way as the world falls apart.

Nearly 5,000 visitors flocked to campus for Fall and Winter Family Weekends. At these annual events, families experience the university’s academic and cultural opportunities.

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The fifth annual Black Heritage Service, held in appreciation of Black History Month, celebrated the intersection of African and African-American culture and faith.

THIN SLICES

Chart toppers Daya and Cheat Codes headlined the annual Fall Concert.

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Lacrosse Coaches Build Legacy Teams

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Nearly 10 years ago, in September of 2008, High Point University announced the addition of a sport growing all over the country — women’s lacrosse.

Less than two years later, HPU added men’s lacrosse, bringing the Panther family to 16 Division I teams.

In less than a decade, those two new teams have made a big impact on and off the field. Women’s lacrosse won two Big South regular season titles, three Big South Championship crowns and advanced to the NCAA Tournament three times, including the school’s first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament win in 2017. Men’s lacrosse captured the 2014 Atlantic Sun regular season title and the 2015 Southern Conference Championship, advancing to the NCAA Tournament.

But what are Women’s Head Coach Lyndsey Boswell and Men’s Head Coach Jon Torpey proud of most?

“The moments I’m most proud of are, of course, the championships, but also the successes my players achieve on and off the field,” says Boswell. “We have grown our studentathletes, making women stronger than when they got here.

I’ve been to weddings, I’ve been in the hospital when they deliver their first born and I’ve been a part of their life after HPU. That’s what I hold closest to my heart.”

“When I arrived, we put an emphasis on helping our players get internships and job opportunities,” Torpey says. “Now, we’re seeing our alumni grow into management positions and become people who are trusted in their jobs, which is fantastic. When you bring in players and parents who fit the right character mold, it allows us to take an invested interest in who they are as people and what they do beyond their time here.”

Boswell joined HPU in 2009 to build the Panther women’s program from scratch. Torpey was hired in October 2010 to build the men’s squad. Both say they couldn’t have done it alone, and having the other head lacrosse coach down the hall made all the difference.

“We hit it off immediately,” Torpey says, “to the point that we decided to do things jointly, whether it was to fundraise or bounce ideas off of each other. Coach Boswell helped me figure out what could work and how to overcome challenges that a new program might face.”

“I consider Coach Torpey and his family to be my family,” Boswell says. “All of the changes in my program have either come from ideas had by Coach Torpey or Pat Tracy (men’s associate head coach), or ideas on which we collaborated.”

Torpey came from Dartmouth College, and during his transition, before moving to High Point, he stayed on as Dartmouth's associate head coach for the 2011 season.

The camaraderie between all HPU’s athletic teams helped make that transition work.

“I would be at Dartmouth coaching, and I would call Lyndsey, Craig Cozart (baseball coach) or others and ask them to talk to a potential player who was visiting campus,” Torpey says.

“Team work was instrumental in building our program.

“I feel like this entire university and the people that make it here are people that have the same beliefs as President Qubein. It’s a total can-do attitude, coming to work with a positive outlook on life and not seeing any barriers or roadblocks that are going to hold you back. It’s really cool to coach at a place where anything is possible on any given day.

I think the people that work here and the students that come here are a byproduct of that.”

To say that the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams at HPU are intertwined would be an understatement. The programs fundraise together, the student-athletes from the programs eat, study and socialize together, and they are even big influencers on each other’s lives.

“Our teams are the same; we see each other as a family,” Boswell says. “When we’re in town and the men have a game, we try not to practice so that we can be in the stands to support them. Then they do the same for us.”

With a total of nine trophies won, a multitude of graduates with great success in the workplace and a family atmosphere, the future of Panther lacrosse is extraordinary. ▲

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CLUB ROWING BUILDS MOMENTUM SIX YEARS AGO, TWO STUDENTS HAD A VISION TO CREATE A ROWING TEAM AT HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY. TODAY, THAT TEAM IS COMPETING AGAINST DIVISION I TEAMS. The men’s and women’s club rowing teams began with a vision that students wanted to bring to life. Now, you could argue it is the most successful club sport on campus, earning numerous medals and holding a stout membership of more than 60 HPU students.

Two students, Sophia Andreatos and Katelyn Schultz, initiated the club rowing program at HPU in 2012. The growth has been tremendous in both the size of the club and success of the program.

And to top it off, the team’s development is purely built on word of mouth.

“The place where we find the majority of our members is at the Activities Fair on campus,” says Head Coach Burt Whicker.

“I challenge our current members to bring at least one or two people to the fair, which then leads them to interest meetings.”

According to Whicker, nearly 80 percent of the current membership had not rowed before joining the club.

That is not uncommon in the sport. Unlike other sports, participants can begin rowing at any age and gain proficiency.

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“One of the great things about rowing is over half of the current U.S. National Team didn’t start rowing until they were in college,” Whicker said. “Once rowing clicks with you, it will change your life.”

The sport altered Whicker’s life for the better. For more than two decades, he was a competitive bicyclist before an accident in 1997 changed his course.

“I was searching for a full body workout that could replace cycling,” Whicker says. “I discovered rowing and it changed my life. I found a sport and a community that is totally unique. I immersed myself in the sport, learning everything I could about it while once again gaining the ability to compete on a national level.

“Choosing to be extraordinary is the mindset for this sport.”

That’s the mantra not only for HPU, but for the program, which has reached new heights in recent seasons thanks to the support from the university. The rowing program is unique in that it is the only club sport on campus with a full-time head coach. It is also the only club that competes against Division I programs.

Nevertheless, the program has found itself standing toe-to-toe with the big names in collegiate rowing, and coming out on equal footing.

In the past fall alone, the squad entered six boats at the Tail of the Tiger Regatta in Clemson, South Carolina, and came back with five medals, including a gold medal in the men’s Varsity Eight.

Both the men’s and women’s Novice Four won gold at the Head of the Ohio Regatta in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the women’s Varsity Four finished fifth in the Head of the Hooch Regatta, the second largest college regatta in the nation, held in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

goal, and how to overcome their personal inner struggles and forge lasting connections with their teammates. In future years, many of our athletes will look back on their crew experience as one of the purest, finest moments of their lives.

Such is the power of rowing.”

Going back to 2016, the program competed at the Dad Vails Regatta in Philadelphia, the largest collegiate regatta where every Division I program is represented. The men’s Varsity Lightweight Pair took home sixth while the women’s Novice Four finished 11th in the nation, standing near the top of club programs entered in the races.

Whicker notes that people know High Point University when they see them on the leaderboard at various regattas. And that has attracted some of the top names in the sport to campus.

It is a demanding but rewarding task to stay in rowing shape.

In the course of a season, team members work on physical fitness, nutrition awareness, sports psychology and yoga to maintain their peak form.

“I have been working with Cam Kiosoglous, director of recruiting for the U.S. National Team, to host a U23 Identification Camp at HPU this fall,” Whicker says. “Meghan Musnicki, a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and seventime World Champion, agreed to be our guest coach for our spring break training trip this year. This is a huge accomplishment for HPU.”

“We teach our athletes how to row,” Whicker says. “Moreover, we’re preparing them for their future, such as how to excel in the face of a daunting challenge, how to persevere through seemingly endless hours of preparation to achieve a shared

Looking to the future, the program anticipates continued growth. For a program that didn’t even exist six years ago, the strides have been incredible. Now HPU club rowing has its eye set on ultimately becoming a Division I program. ▲

SOFTBALL

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CLUB SPORTS TEAMS

High Point University’s Club Sports Program has flourished into 30 teams, providing a variety of opportunities for students to connect and engage with new people on campus while also playing a sport they love.

EQUESTRIAN

ULTIMATE FRISBEE

MEN’S TEAMS:

WOMEN’S TEAMS:

CO-ED TEAMS:

Baseball Basketball Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Golf Ice Hockey Lacrosse Powerlifting Rowing Running Soccer Swimming Tennis Ultimate Frisbee Volleyball

Basketball Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Equestrian Field Hockey Golf Lacrosse Powerlifting Rowing Running Soccer Softball Swimming Tennis Volleyball

Ballroom/Latin Dance Equestrian

DON’T SEE A SPECIFIC SPORT? Don’t see the sport you’re interested in? Don’t worry — HPU provides steps for current students to start their own club program! For more information on HPU’s Club Sports Programs, visit HighPointPanthers.com.

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S T U D E N T AT H L E T E

Q&A Meet

FAMKE HEINST Student-athlete Famke Heinst, a freshman who runs cross country and track and field, has already accomplished a great deal since stepping foot onto the campus of High Point University.

The native of Gelderland, Netherlands, became the third HPU runner and the first conference freshman to win the Big South Championship individual title when she claimed first place on Oct. 28 in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Heinst led the Panthers to their third Big South team championship in four seasons.

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What drew you to High Point University?

What has your first season of cross country at HPU been like?

I knew a lot of Dutch athletes had come to the United States for track and field and cross country. One of the schools I was interested in was High Point University, and when I looked into HPU, all of the facilities were so impressive. The university is also on the smaller side, which attracted me. One of the people I worked with in the recruiting process knew HPU Coach Remy Tamer and said he was a great person at a great university. So when I looked up the roster and got to talk with Coach Tamer a few times, I knew it was the right fit for me.

I did a little bit of cross country back home, but it’s very different. It’s smaller courses and way shorter races, so this was my first real cross country season, and I liked it. I didn’t expect that I would like it so much because I’m more of a middle distance runner (800 meters or 1,500 meters), but once I got used to the distances of cross country (5,000 or 6,000 meters), it was great. The coaches and girls on the team helped me adapt.

Now that I’ve gotten used to the longer distances, Coach Tamer said I might do more 5,000-meter races during the indoor track and field season and maybe the steeplechase during the outdoor season, which I’m excited about.

What did you think the first time you stepped onto campus?

I had seen videos and photos of campus that were beautiful. I wondered if it would live up to the photos in person, but campus was even prettier than the pictures! It was super clean without any trash or stray leaves. It was a picture come to life.

What has been the best part of your transition from the Netherlands to HPU? I think the combination of academics and athletics is great because in the Netherlands that would never be possible. You either do well in school, or if you’re an athlete, that is the primary focus. At HPU, it is a great combination of academics and athletics. I have never regretted my decision to come here for a second.

In your first ‘real’ cross country season, you won the individual Big South title and helped the team win the championship. What were you feeling at the end of the race?

I was actually happier for the team winning than myself. I knew I could win, but the moment it actually happened was so cool. Coach Tamer said that as a team, we needed to control what we were able to, and we knew it was possible to win the team title. That moment when we did was the best.

All the girls did great. ▲

Q&A S T U D E N T AT H L E T E

Meet AUSTIN WHITE Men’s basketball player Austin White landed a full-time job in New York City before he stepped back on campus for his senior year at High Point University. The South Orange, New Jersey, native has had success on the court, winning a pair of Big South regular season titles, as well as off the court as a two-time member of the Big South All-Academic Team. White sees HPU as a great influence on his path to success.

When you decided to attend HPU, did you know what you wanted to study, and were you happy with your decision?

I’ve always had a passion for finance and business as a whole, so I chose business administration as a major with finance and sales as minors. On my visit to HPU, I had the chance to meet with Dr. Jim Wehrley, dean of the Phillips School of Business, and talk about the school, so that was very special.

Throughout my four years here, I’ve had plenty of enjoyable business classes that have helped strengthen my knowledge on the finance world. Also, my father is a sales manager, so I’ve used some of the values and lessons he instilled in me.

You had an outstanding opportunity this summer for an internship.

Where was it?

I had the opportunity to work with Wells Fargo in New York City for 10 weeks this summer doing commercial real estate investment as part of their

multi-family capital group. We worked with developers who were trying to acquire property for apartment buildings or refinance them.

What was the result of the internship?

It was myself and two other interns, and I was blessed to obtain a full-time offer from Wells Fargo post-graduation, so I will be working with them in the financial analyst program. In three years, I’ll be in that same multi-family capital group. I’ll be learning information from some of the same people I learned from when I was an intern, and it will be nice to see everybody once again. I’m excited to get started.

How has HPU helped you achieve this goal?

HPU has been huge in helping me.

From an academic standpoint, HPU President Nido Qubein has done an incredible job with not only the business school, but all of the other

programs on campus. All the classes I’ve taken have definitely helped a lot, but so have the clubs. I’ve taken advantage of the Selling Club by serving as the vice president of finance, as well as being the treasurer of the university’s Title IX organization. My resume would not have been as good as it is without the career and internship services HPU offers, and the university does an incredible job preparing students for the real world.

How has being on the men’s basketball team prepared you for life after college?

At the end of the day, our team is bigger than basketball. The lessons I've learned have prepared me to work as a team with my future co-workers and become the best division we can be. I've also learned how to work hard when the going gets tough, and how to be coached so that I can grow into a leader. ▲ highpoint.edu

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Volleyball Sets

New Standard The HPU volleyball team experienced a season of firsts in 2017.

The Panthers claimed the university’s first at-large bid in 19 years at the Division I level and became the first Big South volleyball program to do it.

HPU was the first Big South squad to post a perfect 16-0 record in regular season league action. All of those wins came in the midst of a programbest 19-match winning streak, which included 14 sweeps.

It was the first group in program history to qualify for consecutive NCAA Tournaments and the first to win a set once it made the national tournament.

Head Coach Tom Mendoza wasn’t the first HPU coach to win Big South Coach of the Year — he was the second. However, he was the first to earn the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Southeast Region Coach of the Year award.

Meanwhile, junior Molly Livingston garnered AVCA All-Southeast Region Honorable Mention to become the first Panther to obtain that honor.

As Mendoza said after the team’s NCAA Tournament setback to Purdue on Nov. 30 in Salt Lake City, Utah, this program’s story is just beginning.

“There are programs with history and there are programs that are writing their history, and I think this group is writing HPU’s history. There is a lot they should be proud of,” says Mendoza.

If this is just the beginning, it’s a great place to start.

Entering the season, High Point was among the top-100 Division I volleyball programs in the RPI during one out of nearly 200 weeks. This season, however, the Panthers never left the top 65, peaking at No. 39 in the final ranking.

Leading the way, the senior class of Haley Barnes, Amy Pilat and Carly Jimenez were a part of a 13-16 campaign as freshmen in 2014.

But then they guided the program to an unprecedented run of three straight 20-win seasons, raising the program’s final RPI from 179 as

UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS FOR FALL SPORTS The HPU volleyball team became the first team in school history to earn an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament.

Once there, the squad picked up the program’s first Division I postseason set win against Purdue University.

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Both the volleyball team and the women’s soccer team made the NCAA Tournament.

Remy Tamer received the Big South Coach of the Year Award for women’s cross country.

sophomores, to 103 as juniors, to 39 in their final season.

“Before becoming a senior, I never looked back on all that we accomplished,” Barnes said after her final match. “We recruited the right people, and we really had the drive to get better. Then, when Tom and the new coaching staff came in, it helped us realize our potential and started pushing us forward in the right direction. To see this turnaround in four years has been pretty amazing.”

That example set by Barnes, the program’s first three-time All-Big South First Team selection, and her classmates has inspired the next group of Panthers to continue the program’s upward trajectory.

“Seeing how driven the upperclassmen are about this game is so contagious that you can’t help but strive to get better with every practice, match and contact,” freshman Katie Doering says.

“They’ve done such an amazing job over the last four years improving the program that it makes me want to do even more to push us further than we have been.”

HPU combined for five Big South titles during the fall led by the women’s soccer program claiming both the regular season and tournament titles.

Meanwhile, men’s soccer and volleyball won the regular season, while the women’s cross country team won the Big South Championship.

Despite the graduation of the second-winningest class in the program’s Division I era, the Panthers are set up to keep building steam in 2018. Livingston leads a deep crop of rising seniors who will begin 2018 needing 22 wins to pass the 2010 crew for the most wins.

In her class, Livingston, the program’s all-time leader in attack percentage with a season still to play, is joined by All-Big South honorees Katie Tylman and Jordan Hefner. Meanwhile, Abby Bottomley was the league’s Freshman of the Year in 2017 as Doering finished third in the voting for that award.

Mendoza saw the benefit of “getting there” as the team took a step from just making the 2016 postseason to competing in 2017, and he expects a similar step with that talent-rich nucleus next fall.

“It’s hard to understand what it takes to be successful on the national stage in college volleyball until you’re there,” Mendoza said. “Getting there last year gave our team something to work toward for the last 12 months, and the experience in 2017 continues to give them something to work toward.” ▲

Led by volleyball’s 16-0 mark, the volleyball and soccer teams registered a 30-2-1 mark against conference foes during the regular season.

From Oct. 11 to Nov. 11, the volleyball and soccer programs combined to win 21 straight contests without a loss.

HPU studentathletes combined for 40 All-Big South honors during the fall.

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CARING PEOPLE

No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.

A campus of caring people transforms HPU students. Faculty don’t lecture; they mentor. Staff don’t instruct students on how to live; they model behavior for students to adopt. Students do more than learn; they make an impact. The result is a campus of compassion and action.

The HPU family contributes more than 100,000 hours of service annually and raises money and awareness for hundreds of national and global philanthropies.

In the spring, Kappa Delta sorority hosted their annual Superhero Dash. The 5K and fun run invites the community to don their best superhero attire for a good cause. Each year, nearly $25,000 in proceeds from the Superhero Dash benefits Prevent Child Abuse America and aims to raise awareness for local nonprofit agencies.

Pictured here, HPU student Remi Rohl runs alongside two children during the 2018 race.

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COMMUNITY CLINIC: A ‘TRIPLE WIN’ FOR HIGH POINT

The pro bono clinic five minutes from campus is a big reason why students come to High Point University to study physical therapy.

The top-notch faculty draws them. So does learning in a new 220,000-square-foot building filled with technology that seems straight out of science fiction. But ask them another reason why they come, and they’ll mention the large space ringed with exercise machines.

That’s the clinic — 9,000 square feet of space with $1 million worth of equipment, including an MRI machine.

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For three years on campus, they’ll work toward receiving a doctorate in physical therapy.

During that time, they’ll also work with patients, one on one.

That, students say, is one of the best lessons they’ll ever receive.

THE CLINIC IS A WIN FOR THE STUDENTS, THE FACULTY AND THE COMMUNITY.

Emerson will do the same thing in High Point. Accompanied by Dr. Garrett Naze, Emerson will help HPU’s physical therapy students hone their skills — and their empathy — assisting High Point’s most vulnerable population when it comes to health care.

– Emily Tower, Physical therapy They’ll take what they learn in class and practice it in student from Annapolis, Maryland Through HPU’s Survey Research the country’s only pro bono Center, Emerson gathered data physical therapy clinic that’s that demonstrates the need. open 40 hours a week. The The survey, conducted last year by 22 HPU students in 300 lessons they learn will take on faces and names, complete hours of interviews, involved 738 potential patients. Of those with stories of hardship tinged with much appreciation. potential patients, 11 percent had chronic pain and unmet That is part of what makes their education special. medical needs. One out of every three of those patients had “It’s not like, ‘Oh, you can take a field trip there and experience severe pain. it,’” says Emily Tower, a physical therapy student from Annapolis, Maryland. “No, we’re learning in our own clinic, and that’s what I call a triple win — for the students, the faculty and the community.”

Unlike other free PT clinics nationwide, the space isn’t the size of a large walk-in closet. HPU has created a clinic out of a building once used by its graduate students studying to become physician assistants.

The clinic is big. Simply stand back and count — 10 exercise machines, six treatment rooms and an MRI machine, a device found nowhere else in any free PT clinic nationwide.

HPU’s free clinic will help educate the next generation of physical therapists and assist those in High Point who don’t have enough insurance to treat the chronic pain that limits their life.

HPU has built a reputation of altruism community wide.

Students, staff and faculty volunteer more than 100,000 hours a year in some type of service. The clinic becomes yet another example of HPU helping those who feel forgotten.

That commitment drew Dr. Alicia Emerson last summer to HPU. She spent 15 years in Chicago working in four hospitals helping patients with little or no insurance deal with their chronic pain.

Her Spanish got a workout. Her compassion did, too.

She has countless stories of patients, of hearing how they couldn’t climb steps or take care of their kids. But she helped them recover and rediscover their life.

Meanwhile, a survey of 51 area clinicians found they discharged early seven out of every 10 patients. Half of those patients were discharged early because they didn’t have enough insurance or any insurance at all.

So, with chronic pain affecting 100 million Americans — more than anyone dealing with cancer, diabetes or heart disease combined — HPU’s free physical therapy clinic will become a beacon for those who need help.

Like Dana Hanson.

She’s 50, a part-time cashier with a local home-improvement store. She has no insurance. Two years ago, she woke up with a pinching pain in her lower back. Since then, she learned to live with it.

She came to the clinic when it opened a few weeks before Christmas. She first worked with Naze and started coming twice a week to exercise. She also learned new home exercises to help lessen her pain and heard about other learning opportunities such as the clinic’s planned patient forums.

It’s all to create what Naze calls a “hub of wellness.”

“I’m glad to have this,” Hanson says. “I’m tired of the pain.”

Emerson heard that often in Chicago. High Point is no different.

“My dad always taught me to stand up for the underdog,” says Emerson, the oldest daughter of two teachers. “And this is a way to bring a little justice, fairness and equality.” ▲

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Building Life Skills through Service Briana Smalley is learning how a community can create positive change.

Inside the High Point City Council Chambers, Briana Smalley sees leaders in her city offer someone a second chance.

That someone was convicted of a past violent crime. But today, they’re being addressed by a police officer, FBI agent, prosecutor, U.S. Marshal and nonprofit leaders, all of whom gather quarterly to send an important message: Crime isn’t welcome here.

“I’ve learned that some people can turn their life around,” Smalley says. “These meetings help them understand they have a choice to become a productive member of society or return to prison.”

Smalley, a High Point University sophomore and criminal justice major, knows that this kind of meeting is rare. She’s interned at the state attorney’s office in her hometown of 86

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West Palm Beach, Florida, for three consecutive summers, where she saw victims receive needed support. But she never saw officials from different agencies work together to prevent offenders from repeating crimes until she began working with High Point Community Against Violence (HPCAV).

“These are local, state and federal officials who wouldn’t work together anywhere else,” Smalley says. “To see this happen so regularly blows my mind. In High Point, it works.”

HPU’s Bonner Program connected Smalley to HPCAV. The Bonner Program is located on select campuses across the country. Its mission, along with HPU’s expanding Service Learning Program, is to offer students the chance to give back while building their skill sets.

“HPU has great resources for students who want to be involved in community service,” says Smalley, who completed more than 2,000 hours of service by the time she graduated from high school. “It’s a vital part of my life I wanted to continue in college, and the Bonner Program gives me the platform to escalate my passions.”

“I have learned that I can be a change agent.”

– Briana Smalley from West Palm Beach, Florida

Learning from Crime Prevention Leaders Smalley chose HPCAV as her service site after a round of rotations at High Point nonprofits.

It made sense. Smalley is a criminal justice major who loves to apply her knowledge to help Jim Summey, the nonprofit’s executive director and only full-time staff member.

A Future in Law

In turn, she learns from a man whose deterrence model lowered crime by 57 percent in a 17-year period.

Smalley acknowledges that being a Bonner Leader and serving at HPCAV is a major commitment.

“Jim has become a huge mentor to me,” Smalley says. “I never thought about offenders after they went to jail. Now I know there is more to their story. Some can change their life.”

The 38 Bonners at HPU serve no less than 300 hours per year at sites throughout High Point.

Summey founded HPCAV in 1997 to reduce violent crimes such as burglaries. He connected and built relationships between law enforcement agencies, nonprofits and community leaders, and he convinced them to come together for the bi-weekly call-in sessions, where, together, they face a former violent crime offender and persuade them to change their path in life.

“We represent the voice of community morale,” Summey says. “We work directly with offenders and tell them their actions are wrong, unacceptable and won’t be tolerated in our community. We also listen to their story so that they can be heard, and we help them identify the moments when they made bad decisions.”

Smalley is at HPCAV’s office in the heart of the city several times a week. She rides along with police patrols, helps provide assistance such as job training inside the organization’s carpentry workshop, and discovers the delicate dynamics of an offender’s life, as well as their family’s life.

“She has exposure to all aspects of the criminal justice system and gets to see the inner-workings of law enforcement,” Summey says.

She has helped advance some of the organization’s technology, and she’s become Summey’s team member.

“Briana brings positive energy to our organization,” Summey says. “I can see that she is soaking up experiences and knowledge. She helps me with problems I’ve had online for years. She’s willing to be a person who makes a positive difference wherever she is.”

But balancing coursework with real-world experiences builds their resumes and helps them rise above competition in the marketplace.

Combine that with the opportunity to help someone in need, and it’s all so worth it, Smalley says.

“I’ve met offenders who tell me they’re working to become better citizens for their children and their families,” she says.

“Some of them want to start their own businesses or go back to school. What Jim and HPCAV does for them is issue a wakeup call. They come to appreciate that.”

Someday soon when Smalley begins law school applications, she’ll have experience that students from other universities won’t have.

Like working one-on-one with victims and offenders.

That’s a standard part of law school clinics, but she’s already done both.

Or understanding the perspectives of police officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, victims’ families or offenders’ families. And understanding that people can change if they choose to.

“I have this 360-degree perspective, and I know all the ways that different entities can come together at the end of the day,” she says. “I’m having real conversations with offenders, prosecutors and others about what can be done. That’s putting me on a maturity level with certain issues that I don’t think others my age will have.

“Through my work at HPCAV, I have learned that I can be a change agent.” ▲

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HPU’S PATRIOTISM SHINES

THROUGH ON VETERANS DAY After nine months in Vietnam, working as a helicopter mechanic and keeping soldiers safe, Larry Long walked off the plane at a California airstrip and saw them clustered behind a fence.

War protesters.

Onstage, in front of an American flag 60 feet long and 30 feet high, an HPU orchestra played patriotic songs, HPU President Nido Qubein delivered a patriotic message and J. Quincy Collins, a former fighter pilot, talked about his time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

They were shouting, calling Long and his fellow soldiers all kinds of names that Long could barely believe. Why?

The program lasted two hours. Long loved it all. But the best part?

Long went back to Illinois, with those accusations ringing in his ears.

HPU students.

He was 21 when he returned in 1967, a week before Christmas. Long is now 71, a longtime truck driver who retired in North Carolina to be close to his daughter and his three granddaughters who call him “Papa.”

Ask him about that incident long ago, and he still gets agitated. He can’t forget.

Fast forward to today.

In November, Long came to High Point University for its Veterans Day Celebration inside the Millis Athletic Center.

He had never been before. He came wearing a jacket with “Vietnam Veteran’’ across his shoulders, and he sat in the middle of a crowd of 1,100 people.

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He came to see — and listen.

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They stopped him, shook his hand and said, “Thank you.”

“You don’t know what that means to us,” Long says. “I have so much pride to see how the world has changed. Kids are starting to understand about our country, and I know it was heartfelt. I don’t want someone giving me lip service. These kids meant it.”

On the other side of Millis near the front sat Tammy Davis.

She’s a 20-year veteran with the High Point Police Department.

She handles evidence. She’s also a Marine. She served six years and trained Marines how to protect themselves against chemical warfare.

Like Long, she had never been to HPU’s celebration. And like Long, she felt overwhelmed by what she saw.

HPU HONORS VETERANS THE 2017 VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION INCLUDED:

100 FLAGS

“I really appreciate the university doing this,” says Davis, 48. “I like their backbone. High Point has a clear idea of what they stand for, and what they put forth in their students. They aren’t afraid to say it.”

DONATED TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AN D GOVER NMEN T BUIL D I N G S

Students like Connor Harris, a senior from Trinity, North Carolina, majoring in event management.

1,200 VETERANS

Harris volunteered to work the celebration, and in the nip of a November morning, he stood outside Millis with other HPU students speaking and shaking hands with as many veterans as he could.

“You don’t see other universities doing things like this,” Harris says.

“We stand tall, we give away American flags to the community, and we talk about how we’re a ‘God, family and country’ school. We’re proud of being American.”

AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS WERE SERVED BREAKFAST AT THE EVENT

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Collins understands. He’s 86, a retired businessman from North Carolina, a former POW in Vietnam.

Collins was flying a bombing mission when he was shot down 80 miles southwest of Hanoi in September 1965. He was finally released in 1973.

He was one of the cellmates of Sen. John McCain.

VOLUNTEERS

MADE IT POSSIBLE

During his keynote speech at the November celebration, Collins retold the story McCain mentioned often during his 2008 presidential run.

HPU IS A

It was the story of Mike Christian. He was a POW, the cellmate of Collins and McCain. Christian used a bamboo needle and discarded cloth to make an American flag, and he and his fellow POWs recited the Pledge of Allegiance in front of it every day.

God, family

When guards found the flag, they beat Christian unconscious, tortured him all night and dropped him back in the cell the next morning. Collins remembers what happened next.

& country SCHOOL

“His eyes were swollen shut,” Collins told the crowd. “And he looked up at us and said, ‘Guys, it’s time for flag No. 2.’”

Long left HPU with Collins’ story in his ears, and under his arm, he carried a patriotic HPU blanket given to him by an HPU student. He took the blanket to Illinois and showed his three brothers.

“The nation that forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten.”

He wanted them to know one thing: Times have changed. ▲

– President Calvin Coolidge

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Greek Life – A Giving Life Going Greek at High Point University not only provides opportunities for lifelong friendships and connections, but it also serves as a springboard for philanthropy efforts around the High Point community and beyond. This year, HPU sororities and fraternities completed thousands of service hours and raised tens of thousands more for charitable foundations and relief efforts. Here are a few highlights from the past year: Not all heroes wear capes, but the ones at HPU do.

Co-hosted by HPU’s Kappa Delta sorority and the Guild of Family Service of High Point, the Superhero Dash, a 5K run/walk and 1K fun run for children, invited the community to don their best superhero attire for a good cause.

While participants pretended they were superheroes, in reality, their impact on the local community was very real and very powerful.

Each year, nearly $25,000 in proceeds from the Superhero Dash benefit Prevent Child Abuse America and aim to raise awareness of Family Service of the Piedmont, a nonprofit agency that provides quality support services, advocacy and education for children and adults dealing with domestic violence, child abuse, mental health and financial stability.

Ice cream, crafts, a bounce house and more brought 200 people to HPU’s campus for the race that began in HPU’s Greek Village and wound throughout campus.

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“Our annual 5K is meant to bring the HPU campus and High Point community together, and that is exactly what it did,” said Benedikte Turner, vice president of philanthropy for Kappa Delta. “I think that the most rewarding part of hosting an event like this is seeing the teamwork that goes into not only raising money for a great cause but also raising awareness. Knowing that we are helping families and children in our community is an amazing feeling.”

Car Festival to Fight Cancer Sigma Nu fraternity at HPU hosted their second annual Car Festival, displaying more than 150 prestigious cars from across North Carolina. The event also featured live music, a snack stand and free ice cream. All proceeds for the event went toward the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, which specializes in breast cancer treatment.

“One of our brothers recently lost his mother to breast cancer, and that’s one of the reasons we chose UNC Lineberger,” said Vinnie Romano, a

member of Sigma Nu. “We are proud to have raised a total of $14,700 in just the second year of this event.”

Granting Wishes HPU’s Beta Theta Pi hosted their annual Cornhole Tournament, bringing hundreds of participants out to support a good cause. Money raised from tournament entry fees, donations and a raffle supported the fraternity’s efforts to make a child’s “wish” come true through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The event was held near HPU’s Greek Village and included plenty of music with burgers, hotdogs and corn for sale.

“This year, we were very focused on raising as much money as we possibly could for Make-a-Wish,” said Dan Medici, a member of Beta Theta Pi. “I’m proud to say that we reached our goal, raising $4,200 — nearly three times as much as last year. It’s a great cause that brings everyone together and we look forward to continuing the annual tournament.”

A Snapshot of Greek Life Service Crown Classic Raises $28,000 High Point University’s Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority hosted its 12th Annual Crown Classic Golf Tournament, raising $28,000 for Breast Cancer Education and Awareness.

Each year the sorority invites the community to take part in the tournament, with all proceeds going to the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation and its efforts to support educational programming, scholarships, leadership development and the organization’s national philanthropy — Breast Cancer Education and Awareness.

“The golf tournament was an absolute success, and we are so grateful for those who continuously support our organization and fundraising efforts,” said Lauren Fischetti, vice president of ZTA at HPU. “Everyone knows someone who has been affected by breast cancer, so to raise this amount for such a great cause is truly moving. We are eager to support our philanthropy and its efforts toward finding a cure.”

During the tournament, ZTA also collected contributions from individuals who sponsored a hole, purchased a sign in memory/honor of loved ones

Zeta Tau Alpha members assembled Chemo Care Packages for patients at High Point Regional Cancer Center. The group collected items for those who are currently receiving chemotherapy treatment for various forms of cancer.

or donated to the cause, culminating in the largest amount of money the event has ever raised.

For the second year in a row, Kappa Alpha Order fraternity raised $26,000 to purchase a Track Chair for a veteran. The special all-terrain chair allows wounded veterans to regain mobility and independence.

Honoring Our Heroes Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and Kappa Sigma fraternity co-hosted the event “Honoring our Heroes” in remembrance of Sept. 11. For the event, both groups set up stations inside HPU’s Wanek Center and invited the students to write thank you notes to U.S. troops and New York’s police and fire departments. Students also wrote letters to local High Point police and fire departments and the students hand delivered them afterward.

Alpha Kappa Alpha hosted a cookout, encouraging HPU students to bring food donations for Open Door Ministries in High Point in exchange for free food, games, fun and music.

Tri Sigma hosted their annual Sigma in Color Run to benefit the March of Dimes.

The Honoring Our Heroes event also included a bulletin board where students could write and post the names of those who lost loved ones in the attacks.

Kappa Sigma fraternity and Kappa Delta sorority overhauled the garden at Kirkman Park Elementary School with fresh mulch and flowers.

“Sept. 11 is a day that will always deserve our remembrance, and giving back to those who put their lives on the line every day for this country is a small way of recognizing the sacrifices that have been made,” said Lexy Rahim, president of Alpha Gamma Delta. “It was amazing to see how willing and eager students were to take the time and write a letter.” ▲

Alpha Chi Omega and Kappa Delta hosted the “Paint, Pop & Drop it” event, inviting students to throw darts at paint-filled balloons and donate to American Red Cross Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

Kappa Alpha Order, Kappa Sigma and Sigma Nu fraternities partnered with United Apparel, a veteranfocused student organization, to host a Casino Night to benefit American veterans.

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DELIVERING SMILES Class of 2021 Gives 1,000 Books to Schools

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“I was really excited when my teacher told us that we were getting new books.”

Six-year-old Ariel Sellors-Cooper was in her first-grade classroom at Montlieu Academy of Technology when a group of High Point University students burst in with boxes full of books.

– Ariel Sellors-Cooper, first grader at Montlieu Academy of Technology

Sellors-Cooper was the first of her classmates to line up as the HPU students began unpacking the bundles of books. She quickly spotted the one she wanted, “Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown. Hugging it, she went back to her seat and began reading aloud. “In the great, great, green room…”

It was one of nearly 1,000 books that the Class of 2021 donated to local schools last fall.

“I really like reading this kind of book,” she said. “I was excited when my teacher told us that we were getting new books.”

Through HPU’s Common Experience Program, incoming students are invited to share their favorite book with a local child by donating a copy when they arrive to campus for the start of the fall semester.

Each book contains a note on the inside front cover written by the HPU student.

Scott Wojciechowski, director of first-year residential education, and a group of first-year HPU students dedicated time to make the deliveries.

“Within their first days on HPU’s campus, we ask students to participate in a community service project through donating these books,” said Wojciechowski. “That re-instills the university’s values of service and caring for others, and it’s important to us that students are immediately introduced to the High Point community.”

Carley Hand, a first-grade teacher at Montlieu Academy, looked on as her students flipped through stacks of books.

“My kids love to read, so we are very glad to get these,” said Hand. “I can tell that they definitely get excited over new books.”

The Common Experience Program allows first-year students to interact through a yearlong examination of a topic or issue that requires interdisciplinary thought and collaboration. Students also participate in a common read where all first-year students read the same book and participate in a multifaceted learning experience.

HPU junior Stephanie Smith, president of HPU Peer Mentors, the campus group responsible for coordinating the book collection, helped deliver the books to local schools.

“I’m thankful to attend a university that acts on its dedication to providing an inspiring environment created by caring people,” said Smith. “Seeing the smiles and the direct impact of our collection efforts is like seeing a kid on Christmas morning. It’s really touching.” ▲

Since the common read is an integral part of the Common Experience Program, it seemed only fitting to ask incoming students to choose a book that has personal significance for them and donate it to the community.

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STUDENTS DELIVER

30,000 MEALS

TO COMMUNITY

High Point University’s Food Recovery Network, a student organization dedicated to eliminating food waste and feeding the High Point community, reached two milestones in the last year — most food collected in one semester at HPU and 30,000 meals collected since the organization began in Fall 2015.

HPU students donated a total of 10,435 pounds of food last semester alone, providing 8,696 meals to the High Point community. In past years, the group has packaged and delivered food numerous times per week to Open Door Ministries in High Point. This food assists the organization in their mission to provide three meals a day, seven days a week, to those in need.

HPU’s FRN has also expanded its reach by adding three new locations.

“We’ve partnered with three new locations where we drop off donations recovered from the Wanek Center and Slane Student Center Café,” says Michaela Mucha, HPU senior and president of FRN. “To better feed the High Point Community, we now also support Leslie’s House, the Salvation Army women’s shelter, and the Community Writing Center.”

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Mucha says that leading FRN and being a part of the team has been her most impactful experience at HPU. “My most meaningful experience at High Point University is, without a doubt, my involvement with Food Recovery Network,” says Mucha. “Volunteering and having the opportunity to serve the organization as its president, I have created lasting friendships with not only the students of various organizations on campus but with staff who work in the kitchens and areas on HPU’s campus where we recover food. Time flies while doing service with people who are brought together through a common goal: to feed the community. I’m so incredibly proud and honored to be a part of this student-run organization that works diligently each week to end hunger in the city of High Point.” ▲

SERVANT LEADERSHIP Two students honored for positively impacting their community FIRST GENERATION SCHOLAR AWARDED NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP High Point University sophomore Douglas McCollum has received the Newman Civic Fellowship, which recognizes and supports communitycommitted students who have demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities in their country. Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides a variety of learning and networking opportunities, including a national conference of Newman Civic Fellows.

McCollum is a Say Yes / First Generation Scholar and Bonner Leader who grew up in the city of High Point. His work as a Bonner Leader has focused on the Community Writing Center, just a few blocks from HPU. He and his fellow Bonner Leaders commit to serving 300 hours in their community each year.

Even before coming to HPU, he was already a servant leader.

McCollum has long been a volunteer at the Poetry Project in Greensboro, North Carolina — an initiative that teaches, inspires and creates a safe space for youth to express themselves through poetry. Through the Poetry Project and his own experiences, McCollum has learned that words have the power to create meaningful change.

“To be able to bridge the gap between communities in High Point is important for me,” he says. “I’m a firm believer that we can always build, we can always grow. And the first step to building a strong community is to start a conversation.

After that, you go out and do the work.”

For more examples of HPU students serving their community, visit highpoint.edu/caringpeople

EUBANKS RECEIVES STATEWIDE RECOGNITION HPU student Danasia Eubanks has been recognized for outstanding leadership and service by North Carolina Campus Compact, a statewide network of colleges and universities with a shared commitment to civic engagement. Eubanks is a recipient of the network’s Community Impact Award, which honors one student leader at each school.

Eubanks, a senior and criminal justice major, is one of 23 students selected for the honor, joining more than 250 college students recognized by the network since the award was first presented in 2006.

As the YWCA’s Justice Coordinator, Eubanks has worked with the City of High Point's Human Relations Commission, High Point Public Library, High Point Museum and other community organizations to host “Front Porch” conversations on race and justice issues. As a Bonner Leader at HPU, she focuses on program and partnership development, networking with the seven partner sites and with different parts of the HPU administration.

“I was very honored and privileged to receive this award,” Eubanks says. “I absolutely love serving our High Point community, and although I don’t do this work for recognition, it is nice for some of my work to be acknowledged.”

North Carolina Campus Compact is a statewide coalition of 37 public, private, and community colleges and universities that share a commitment to civic and community engagement. The network is an affiliate of the national Campus Compact organization, which claims 1,000 member schools representing nearly 2 million college students.

HPU President Nido Qubein is chair of North Carolina Campus Compact’s executive board. ▲

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THIN SLICES

The Bed Brigade and United Apparel, two student-run organizations, hosted “Build for the Brave,� an event where volunteers built 50 beds to benefit the Heal Our Heroes Camp, a new facility that will house homeless veterans in High Point.

Officers from the Class of 2018 led efforts to collect 8,000 water bottles for hurricane relief in the Caribbean. The university matched their efforts, for a total of 16,000 water bottles.

Nine High Point University graduates are working to improve education and food security in the city of High Point as AmeriCorps VISTAs (Volunteers in Service to America).

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United Way of Greater High Point’s delivery vans came to campus as part of the organization’s “CANpaign” Kick Off event, and the Student Government Association presented nearly 400 canned food items.

THIN SLICES

Twenty-three students in three pre-professional medical tracks took part in a service learning trip to Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

Students provided free medical, dental and veterinary assistance to communities in need.

Freshman Bonner Leaders traveled to Washington, D.C., where they served at local food banks and met with elected officials on Capitol Hill about legislation that supports social justice.

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THIN SLICES

Community Christmas, an annual complimentary Christmas celebration held on campus, welcomed 26,000 people to enjoy holiday fun, including train rides, hot cocoa and more.

The annual Stuff a Stocking Campaign donated a total of 1,200 stockings filled with toys, necessities and more to the Salvation Army.

The Stout School of Education and several student organizations partnered together to donate $3,000 worth of school supplies and food to support teachers and children in Texas who were affected by Hurricane Harvey.

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Students and faculty hosted the third annual TOPSoccer program, which is intended to improve the overall fitness, self-esteem and social skills of children with physical and/or intellectual disabilities.

THIN SLICES

Physical therapy students, alongside certified occupational and physical therapists, led children through fun activities at Camp High Five. The camp is a weeklong program for youth with limited movement on one side of their body.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, students honored his legacy by completing 33 service projects for a total of 1,500 hours of community service.

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CARING FOR PATIENTS IN HIGH POINT Zaineb Ata Khan, Class of 2011

Mentorship matters. Dr. Zaineb Ata Khan knows that to be true.

Khan is a dentist in High Point who treats smiles at North Point Dental Associates.

Her office is a short drive from the university where she began her path to becoming a dentist, but also much more.

Going into the medical field was always Khan’s dream. She likes working with her hands, and she enjoys building relationships with people. She also speaks five languages, which comes in handy when encountering the many different types of people who need her help.

But the faculty mentorship she received at High Point University is what helped her chart her course in life.

“HPU’s student-faculty ratio is amazing because you’re able to have that one-on-one relationship with faculty. My friends who went to larger schools had to wait months to schedule a meeting with their faculty. But me? I was going to lunch to discuss my career paths with professors all the time, and they were helping me make myself a better candidate for dental school.”

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Khan grew up in High Point. She first met HPU’s dedicated faculty during her interviews for the presidential scholarship program, to which she was accepted.

Dr. Kelli Sapp, associate professor of biology, was one of Khan’s faculty mentors who supported her through the transition.

She declared her major as biology, and her professors helped her set a path for medical school. They connected her with an internship in the neurology and stroke department at Wake Forest Baptist Health early in her academic career so Khan could be sure it was the right path.

“I would barge into her office several times a week to talk about dental school,” Khan says. “She proofed my essays and ensured I was a strong candidate. She made sure I reached my goal.”

The experience was invaluable, but she realized that being a physician wasn’t conducive for the one-on-one patient relationships she hoped to build.

With her professors’ support, she tried something new. She landed an internship at a dentist’s office and fell in love with the field.

“It made sense because I was always known as the girl who was smiling,” Khan said. “But changing to dentistry was a major, important decision. I was changing the only dream I had ever pursued. There were times when I questioned myself, and my parents were worried.”

“I’m so grateful to have this talent and this ability where I am able to give back.”

– Dr. Zaineb Ata Khan, Class of 2011

Sapp enjoys helping students like Khan navigate the intense path to dental school. The two developed a close bond, and Sapp even attended Khan’s wedding.

“Zaineb was highly motivated and driven to succeed,” Sapp says. “I am excited that she’s chosen to return to High Point to practice. She will be an incredible mentor and serve as a role model for current HPU students who are on the pre-dental track.”

Khan continued her full-time work at the dentist practice for two years after graduating from HPU in 2011. Then she applied to dental school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was accepted. She graduated in May 2017 and returned to High Point two months later to begin serving people in her hometown — a dream she is excited to have fulfilled.

“I love going to the office every day to see patients and bring a smile to their face,” Khan says. “It’s definitely hard work, but I’m so grateful to have this talent and ability where I am able to give back. And I’m grateful for all of those professors at HPU who made sure I traveled the right path and became the best dentist I could possibly be.” ▲

Helping Families Fight Cancer Josh Lambeth, Class of 2007 When people ask Josh Lambeth, ’07, to tell them about High Point University, he always shares the same story.

He was shopping with his wife when he got a phone call from a number he didn’t know. But he knew the 336 area code, so he answered.

And he knew the voice on the line — HPU President Nido Qubein.

“Josh,” Qubein told him, “I heard about your diagnosis and I want you to know we’re praying for you.”

Lambeth was diagnosed with rectal cancer that would later spread to his liver.

He’s fought four diagnoses since 2013.

Lambeth learned from Qubein during his time on campus. He completed the President’s Senior Seminar and sought Qubein’s advice during impromptu conversations.

But the call blew Lambeth away.

“I had graduated seven years ago at that point in time, and for him to take time to call me, tell me that I was on his mind and remember who I was — I will always remember that,” Lambeth says.

That phone call is an example of his alma mater’s support. It’s a testament to the many ways Lambeth found optimism on a difficult journey, from facing his own treatment to focusing on helping others.

“I clearly remember the day I was diagnosed,” he says. “I sat on the couch and began brainstorming ways my experience could be used positively and help others along their journey. I prayed God would use me to make a difference.”

Beginning a Legacy Lambeth studied business and joined Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity while at HPU. He was the fraternity’s vice president and

philanthropy chair and helped build an annual event that raised $5,000 for the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research. Pi Kappa Alpha still hosts the fundraiser and now garners more than $25,000 a year.

Back then, Lambeth had no idea the fundraising experience would someday help him establish a foundation to support people battling cancer in Wilmington, North Carolina.

“Helping people is a driving force in my life now.”

– Josh Lambeth, ’07

And he didn’t know he’d someday receive a cancer diagnosis himself.

But in 2013, he did, and his life turned into a roller coaster that required him to make a decision.

Would he let this keep him down? Or use it to lift up others?

After learning the realities of fighting the disease, he began channeling his knowledge through his work in sales at Pruitt Health. He became the community relations representative who serves Hospice patients and families as his clients.

“I work to make their transition as smooth as possible and to educate physicians, nurses and case managers,” Lambeth says. “As someone who’s experienced a major health challenge, I can identify with some of the challenges they may face.”

And he didn’t stop there.

“A patient may receive treatment that lasts up to eight hours a day,” he says.

“They don’t want to simply sit there. We are working to find what is important to them and create an environment that is positive, uplifting and engaging.”

In 2015, Lambeth established the Zimmer Cancer Center’s Patient Resource Fund to help patients with everyday needs like gas cards for transportation, grocery gift cards, wigs and house cleaning services. He knows how much those services mean to a patient trying to maintain their daily life while undergoing treatment. The fund is also piloting an iPad virtual reality program.

With these triumphs, there have also been challenges. In November 2017, he was diagnosed with stage four liver cancer.

At the Zimmer Cancer Center at New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC) where Lambeth received treatment, he works to make things better for other patients.

But he pushes forward. His positivity and commitment to make the world better for cancer patients remains.

That’s one of the reasons HPU honored Lambeth with a “10 Under 10 Young Alumni Award” at the 2017 Alumni Awards Ceremony.

He serves on the Board of Directors and Patient Advisory Board, allowing him to provide perspective on a $15 million renovation.

“I’ve never been angry,” he says. “This is part of God’s plan. Embracing that daily has allowed me to help a lot of people and make a difference.”▲

Bettering His Community

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HOMECOMING AT HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY The Tradition Returns to Campus More than 1,600 alumni and guests flocked to High Point University for Homecoming Weekend 2017. Alumni and their family members enjoyed many longstanding traditions, as well as new events at their alma mater.

Homecoming Weekend has previously been celebrated as Alumni Weekend, but the tradition of Homecoming returned this year with networking opportunities, class reunions, athletic events and student performances, as well as the presentation of the Homecoming Court.

Homecoming Weekend kicked-off with the annual Alumni Awards Ceremony, where 13 outstanding alumni were recognized for their work and service. HPU President Nido Qubein provided university updates to alumni and their family members at the ceremony. He shared details of the new 220,000-square-foot Congdon Hall, where the ceremony was held, while celebrating the university’s sixth straight year at the top of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Regional Colleges in the South List and its inclusion in Princeton Review’s 382 Best Colleges in the nation.

“You’re sitting in the midst of the American dream,” Qubein said, referring to the university’s newest facility. “The American dream is not a dream defined by money, but by the achievement of your own goals and your own spirited passion. You can go into any of these labs housed in the Congdon School of Health Sciences or the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy, and you can hold these labs against the best in America on the finest campuses.

There is nothing like them. This is the center of the American dream. You are seeing it, feeling it, and as alumni, I hope you are proud of it.”

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Alumni Honored for Success and Significance Douglas S. Witcher, ‘77, was awarded Alumnus of the Year. Witcher graduated from HPU with a degree in education. He then launched his career in the insurance industry. In 1994, he founded Triad-based Smart Choice, which has grown to become a major insurance network serving more than 6,300 agencies in 45 states.

Witcher is an avid supporter of many different causes in the community, including serving on the boards and organizations of High Point Regional Hospital, High Point Chamber of Commerce, High Point Community Foundation, Hospice of the Piedmont, the United Way of Greater High Point and more. He currently serves on the HPU Board of Trustees, as the advancement committee chair and executive committee member.

“HPU has expanded dramatically since I was a student here, but one thing has remained the same — the university continues to bring hope to individuals like myself and encourage students

Douglas S. Witcher, ‘77 Alumnus of the Year

SAVE THE DATE

Dr. MJ Hall, ‘69 Alumni Service Award

Dr. Richard P. Budd, ‘63 Lifetime Achievement Award

Homecoming 2018 Save the date for Homecoming 2018 October 5-7

Join fellow classmates and current HPU students to celebrate this special occasion with the annual Alumni Awards Ceremony, men’s lacrosse game and tailgate, reunions, family-friendly block party and much more.

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to dream big,” said Witcher. “This is why I am honored to receive this recognition. It’s like a nod, a statement of encouragement that I am on the right path.”

“The American dream is not a dream defined by money, but by the achievement of your own goals and your own spirited passion.”

– Nido Qubein, HPU President

Dr. Richard P. Budd, ‘63, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. Budd, who graduated from HPU with a bachelor’s in business administration, has been successful as an entrepreneur and community leader. He has served as the president, CEO and currently chairman emeritus of The Budd Group based in WinstonSalem, North Carolina.

Budd is a lifetime member of HPU’s Board of Trustees and has served as chairman of the board. He has also served in many capacities on a number of boards and organizations, including serving as director, committee member and trustee for the YMCA, Wake Forest University Medical Center Board of Visitors, Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce and more. In 1992, Budd received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by former North Carolina Governor Jim Martin.

“I came to North Carolina in the summer of 1961,” said Budd. “HPU cares about every student that walks through our doors. They accepted me and they cared for me. 1961 was a very significant year in the history of the Budd family because I became a student at HPU, and my wife Sylvia and I were married that year. Now, we celebrate 56 years of association with this fine university and 56 years of marriage together. I love serving this university, and Sylvia and I both love giving back.”

Dr. MJ Hall, ’69, was awarded the Alumni Service Award.

Hall graduated from HPU with a bachelor’s degree, and also earned a master's in education from the University 104

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of Maryland College Park, an MBA from Long Island University, as well as a doctoral degree in educational leadership from George Mason University.

Hall, a skilled WorkLearn strategist and performance coach, has served as the co-director and content manager for the ATD Forum (Association for Talent Development) since 2007 and has vast career experiences including working for the United States Military Academy, a school teacher overseas as part of the Department of Defense, a keynote speaker and an author.

Hall’s volunteer work includes working with doctoral students at HPU, serving on the editorial board for the Journal of Organizational and Educational Leadership at Gardner-Webb University, and contributing to service projects as part of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her dedication to success has earned her many accolades; Hall is the recipient of service and achievement awards from the Department of Defense, the United States Army, the Office of the President and more.

“My adventuresome spirit led me to High Point College,” said Hall. “Collectively, the High Point experience provided many opportunities for service and leadership on the campus, in the community, the state and throughout the nation. These extracurricular activities were strongly supported by my faculty. This same curiosity and adventuresome spirit that led me to High Point took me to jobs in faraway places like Germany and Korea.”

HPU’s 2018 Homecoming Weekend will be held Oct. 5-7.

Visit engage.highpoint.edu to register for the event. ▲

10 under 10 1

2

5

8

YOUNG ALUMNI 3

6

9

4

The 10 Under 10 award winners were evaluated on their outstanding achievements in their field of endeavor, their demonstrated leadership and their service to HPU and their communities.

The awards ceremony recognized the following:

1

Cody Allen, ’11, Relief Pitcher, Cleveland Indians

2

Paige Cornetet, ’11, Owner and Founder of Millennial Guru

3

Jazmin Cromartie, ’13, doctoral student in dentistry, East Carolina University

4

Eric Gerbert, ’11, Tax Attorney, Tax Defense Network, and Co-Founder of First Coast Law, LLC

5

Victoria B. Hensley, ’15, Hayden-Harman Foundation

6

Matt Jakubowski, ’14, Marketing Executive, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

7

Josh Lambeth, ’07, Community Relations Representative, Pruitt Health

8

Corey Law, ’13, Harlem Globetrotters

9

Claudia Mota, ’11, Private Brand Marketing, Lowes Foods, and MBA student at Wake Forest University

7

10

10

Dr. Meg Procaccini, ’12, Chiropractic Physician, AFC Physical Medicine & Chiropractic Centers

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ENGAGING

ALUMNI AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE NATION

ENGAGE ONLINE

GET INVOLVED

Create your account today at engage.highpoint.edu.

A caring and engaged HPU network is vital to the strength and success of High Point University. We need your talents, energy and commitment in preserving HPU's legacy as:

Join our online community of alumni, family and friends to access exclusive information about High Point University. You’ll find: u Alumni Class Notes

u Family Resources

u Upcoming Events

u Alumnihood Benefits

u Ways to Leave Your Mark and

u Social Media Networks to Join

Support Campus Initiatives

u Admission Advocates u Regional Event Hosts u Social Media Ambassadors u Alumni Peer Agents

Visit engage.highpoint.edu/ get-involved to share you interest.

THE LEAGUE OF LOYAL ALUMNI The League of Loyal Alumni recognizes, honors and celebrates alumni who donate to High Point University for three or more years consecutively. Members of The League receive a membership card that provides exclusive discounts and privileges, an exclusive car decal, recognition at select HPU events and more!

Learn more and join The League of Loyal Alumni by visiting engage.highpoint. edu/the-league.

PRESIDENT'S LEADERSHIP CABINET The President's Leadership Cabinet (PLC) is composed of philanthropic High Point University families, current students and alumni, who support the values-based education provided to students during their extraordinary journey at HPU. Investors in the President's Leadership Cabinet work collaboratively with HPU President Nido Qubein and university leaders to plant seeds of greatness in the hearts and minds of HPU students.

PARENTS COUNCIL The Parents Council (PC) is open to all parents and families who are interested in supporting the university's mission of delivering educational experiences that enlighten, challenge and prepare students to lead lives of significance in complex global communities. During HPU's Fall and Winter Family Weekends, investors gather for official Council business meetings, social activities and the Council-sponsored service-outreach project, which is open for all families and their students to participate.

For more information about the PLC and PC, please contact Erica Burroughs, Director of Family Engagement and Annual Giving, at family@highpoint.edu.

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FAMILY AND ALUMNI EVENTS

HPU CONNECTS Network with alumni and families in your area at an HPU Connects event. HPU Connects is a series of regional events that consist of networking events, social outings, university updates and more. This year, more than 450 attended an HPU Connects event in 15 cities.

HPU IN THE CITY High Point University alumni and families have provided mentorship and insight into career exploration in New York and Washington, D.C., for today’s students during semester breaks. In the program’s third year, students explored various fields including fashion, marketing, public service, finance and corporate communication. An evening networking reception was held in each location for attendees, current HPU students, alumni and families located in their respective regions.

UPCOMING EVENTS u Washington, D.C.

u Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

u Baltimore, Maryland

u Boston, Massachusetts

u New York City

u Atlanta, Georgia

u Piedmont Triad area,

u Long Island, New York

North Carolina u Raleigh, North Carolina

u Charlotte, North Carolina

To view the full calendar of events, visit engage.highpoint.edu/HPUconnects.

Interested in hosting the HPU Connect event in your city?

Email us at engage@highpoint.edu to learn more.

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LEGACY OF SUPPORT Families, alumni and friends continue to help High Point University transform into one of the finest institutions in the country. Since Nido Qubein assumed the presidency in 2005, HPU has raised more than $375 million, expanded its campus and tripled its enrollment.

Below, you’ll find stories about a few of those who’ve chosen to leave a lasting impact at High Point University. Visit engage.highpoint.edu/pchr to view a full listing of those who choose to support HPU in the President’s Circle Honor Roll of Donors. For more information about how you can leave your mark at High Point University, visit engage.highpoint.edu/leave-your-mark.

Martha Luck Comer Johnson, ’54, received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She was a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and had an impactful teaching career with Moore County and Randolph County Schools. The Martha Luck Comer Learning Commons is named in honor of the positive impact she’s made on the campus and in the Triad.

The Martha Luck Comer Learning Commons is a library located in the heart of campus inside the Wanek Center, providing students with large study spaces, individual desks for quiet study, computers, printers and a collection of reference material.

Through the HPU Forever Families program, Diane and Chris Pohanka established an endowed scholarship to assist students in pursuing the same extraordinary education that their daughter, Blake, ’17, received. The scholarship gives first consideration to students in the Phillips School of Business who have an interest in entrepreneurship, or to a student majoring in nonprofit leadership and management.

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The Michael Edward and Jill Rivenbark Carr Endowed Scholarship was established with a pledge from Michael Carr, a 1970 graduate of High Point College, and his wife, Jill. The scholarship supports students who demonstrate financial need, with first preference for students from the city of High Point and second preference for students from North Carolina. Michael Carr founded Carr Properties, a commercial real estate company that develops office space extremely adaptive to the needs of small and medium-sized businesses.

Jill Rivenbark Carr enjoyed a career with IBM as a systems engineer, direct marketing strategist and manager for North America.

Rob and Susan Culp, of High Point, North Carolina, supported the Culp Planetarium at the Wanek School of Undergraduate Sciences with a $1 million gift. The Culps are impactful community leaders.

Rob Culp is one of the founders of Culp, Inc. He has served in a variety of positions including executive vice president and secretary, president, chief operating officer, chief executive officer, and chairman of the board, the role in which he serves today. He also serves as treasurer of the HPU Board of Trustees. Susan Culp is dedicated to a life of service and is chairman of High Point Community Foundation’s Grants Committee, a member of the foundation’s Principals’ Fund for Student Needs and the HPU Board of Visitors.

Bob and Lynda Engel, of Glenwood Village, Colorado, made a six-figure gift to support HPU’s continued growth. Bob Engel is CEO of CoBank, a $128 billion national bank serving vital industries across rural America. Bob and Lynda are involved in the Denver community in both philanthropic and business ventures with a focus on education.

They have demonstrated a significant interest in HPU because their son, Tyler Engel, ’16, received an extraordinary education during his time on campus. The Engel Initiative Conference Room in Cottrell Hall is named in the family’s honor.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY THROUGH GIFTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, ENDOWED FUNDS, PLANNED GIVING AND MORE, VISIT ENGAGE.HIGHPOINT.EDU/ WAYS-TO-GIVE.

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SCHOLARSHIPS

SUPPORT STUDENTS’ DREAMS

THE HALLMAN FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP FURTHERS THE EDUCATION OF FUTURE TEACHERS When Kristen McCarthy was a sophomore, she answered a calling she’d felt in her heart since high school. She decided to become a special education teacher.

She was able to do that with the help of a scholarship established by an alumnus.

“I had volunteered for Special Olympics and worked with special needs children at summer camp,” McCarthy says. “I told one of my sorority sisters that I was drawn to working with these children. She suggested I talk to the faculty who’d been helpful to her as an education major.”

McCarthy declared her major as special education after receiving support not only from faculty, but from Richard Hallman, ’61. She is the recipient of the Hallman Family Scholarship for special education majors.

“There are many children who need skilled educators who care about them, and only a small number of people are willing to dedicate themselves to the field,” Hallman says. “I hope this scholarship enables students to do the good work they were intended to do and find fulfillment in the field of special education.”

McCarthy is a senior who student teaches five days a week at Hasty Elementary in nearby Thomasville, North Carolina.

She assists teachers and children in second-through-fifth grades and is preparing to lead a classroom of her own.

“I am grateful for the support and the fact that this scholarship encourages more people to consider the importance of special education,” McCarthy says. “We

“HPU HAS A HIGH CALIBER OF STUDENTS STRIVING TO ACHIEVE THEIR EDUCATION.”

Hallman established the scholarship for many – Richard Hallman, ’61, who established HPU’s Hallman Family Scholarship reasons. First, he cares about his alma mater and has stayed involved through the years. always need additional support in our field. It’s very “High Point University means a great deal to me,” says Hallman, who is also the founder and chairman of Electronic Data Systems in the city of High Point. “I was a business administration major, and my education has been helpful to me all through my business career. I have also enjoyed serving on the university’s Panther Club and Board of Visitors.”

In addition, his family has experienced the kindness and generosity of special education teachers. Hallman has two granddaughters with autism who have developed their abilities by working with their teachers.

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rewarding when a parent in my class tells me their child wouldn’t be able to learn the material without me, and it’s very encouraging when someone like Mr. Hallman has experienced that and wants to give back.”

“HPU has a high caliber of students striving to achieve their education,” Hallman says. “If I can help them become the person they want to be and help those who are in need, it’s most gratifying to me to be a part in that process.”

Learn more about establishing an endowed fund at engage.highpoint.edu/endowment. ▲

INSPIRED TO GIVE

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WHY FAMILIES AND ALUMNI SUPPORT HPU They represent many different graduation years, majors, hometowns and walks of life.

But the purple thread that binds them is HPU. From young alumni who recently graduated, to those who attended High Point College before it became High Point University, to parents who’ve watched their students flourish, they all have reasons they give back. Below is a snapshot of their stories and why HPU means so much to them.

“We appreciated the personalized education we received at HPU and want future students to have that same wonderful education.

Additionally, we are proud of the growth of HPU and the positive economic effects on the city of High Point and the greater Triad.”

“HPU gave me the skills and confidence to excel in my major and in the workforce. I am so very grateful for all the experiences and opportunities I had as a student. I also support HPU because of the wonderful professors and caring staff.”

-Miriam E. Webster, ’17

-William, ’69, and Sharon, ’70, Stewart “We partner with organizations that reflect our beliefs and our values. Our family is Christ-centered and faith-driven, and we believe that God placed us at HPU for a reason.

Four years later, we’re so grateful for our son’s experience on campus. We’ve been in the classrooms, seen the technology and met the professors, and the entire campus is a wonderful extension of our home.”

-Jim and Kristine Mestdagh, parents of JT Mestdagh, ’18 “I received personal attention all four years at HPU. My professors connected me with internships and endorsed me to PricewaterhouseCoopers, which hired me for my first full-time job. I am now a CPA and recently celebrated my two-year anniversary at PWC as a top performer. My time at High Point kick-started my career and shaped the person I am today. That is why I choose to give.”

-Leah M. Scully, ’15

“I appreciate Nido Qubein’s holistic approach to higher education and the values that he and the school represent.

Belief in God and country are important to me, my wife and our family. Not only did I have a great experience at the university during my time there, but my daughter did as well. HPU was the right place for us to support.”

-Peter Hollett, ’86, father of Hannah Hollett, ’16 “I support HPU because it has become a wonderful educational institution with a stunning environment. Most importantly, my son chose it as his university and loves it here.”

-Leslie A. Dickerson, parent of a current student

“I support HPU because they believe in God, family and country.”

-Raymond Skidmore Jr., ’55

“I believe in the mission and values of the leaders, faculty and staff of HPU. I give to assist students in achieving their goals and dreams.”

-John “Jack” L. Hamilton, ’81

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HPU REMEMBERS SLANE, TREMBLAY AND WHELESS The High Point University family celebrates the lives of three mentors who passed away this year. These individuals contributed many years of dedicated service and advocacy.

Dr. Marsha Slane

Dr. Wilfred Tremblay

DR. MARSHA SLANE was the first woman to chair the HPU Board of Trustees in the university’s 94-year history. She played a key role in persuading Dr. Nido Qubein to accept the role as HPU president, and she led the board for an extended five-year term as HPU began a major transformation.

DR. WILFRED TREMBLAY, founding dean of High Point University’s Nido R. Qubein School of Communication, came to HPU in 2007 from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater.

Under his leadership, the communication major at HPU expanded to offer a variety of concentrations, including electronic media, journalism, popular culture and media studies, game and interactive media design, strategic communication, documentary media, sport communication, and sport and event management. He attracted a stellar team of faculty and staff through the years and, together, they designed state-of-the-art television studios and an interactive gaming and design lab inside the school’s facility.

HPU awarded an honorary doctorate to Dr. Slane and named the Jack and Marsha Slane Student Center in honor of her and her husband, Jack. Today, the Slane Student Center is a hub of activity on campus with a recreation center, four dining options and numerous spaces for study and collaboration.

In addition to their leadership at HPU, the Slanes were champions of education and servant leaders in their community. In 2004, they were named Philanthropist of the Year in the city of High Point.

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Thanks to these efforts, The Princeton Review named HPU one of the top universities in the nation for communication majors.

Dr. Tremblay stepped away from teaching in the last year after battling cancer and moved to New Orleans. He was appointed Professor Emeritus upon recommendation from the Board of Trustees and HPU President Nido Qubein.

Professor Andrea Wheless ANDREA WHELESS came to HPU in 1987 and held a multitude of positions that led to the continued advancement of both the university and the art department.

She served in more than 30 different capacities including the admissions committee, professional growth committee, deputy faculty marshal and chair of the art department.

She received the Meredith Clark Slane Distinguished Teaching-Service Award at the 2013 Commencement Ceremony. Wheless taught sculpture, ceramics and three dimensional design courses and was instrumental in developing the HPU Sculpture Garden. She was actively involved in portrait sculpture art and exhibited in juried shows regionally, nationally and internationally.

RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE High Point University is recognized by the nation’s premier experts for providing high quality value, curriculum, career and support services, facilities, operations and more.

Featured here is a glimpse of the honors bestowed upon HPU. “This recognition reflects the tremendous advocacy we receive from our students and parents, which is what we value most,” says Dr. Nido Qubein, HPU president.

“Our values-based education and focus on life skills is producing graduates who go on to lead lives of significance. Their success is our ultimate reward.”

To refer a qualified student or request more information about HPU, email excellence@highpoint.edu.

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One University Parkway High Point, N.C. 27268 USA 336-841-9000

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Welcome Home, Coach Tubby Smith!

High Point University’s extraordinary transformation continues as Tubby Smith, one of the top basketball coaches in the country, returns to his alma mater this year as head coach for men’s basketball.

“It is a great honor and privilege to return to my alma mater as the head basketball coach,” Smith says. “My wife, Donna, and I have been very impressed with the transformation of the university under the leadership of Dr. Nido Qubein. We are excited to be back in a place so near and dear to our hearts.”

Smith joins the Panthers with an impressive career including 27 seasons as a Division I head coach with a 597-302 overall record. He has been named National Coach of the Year three times, Conference Coach of the Year six times, and he received the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award.

He led Kentucky to the 1998 NCAA Championship and has led teams to three NCAA Elite Eight appearances, nine NCAA Sweet 16 appearances, 18 NCAA Tournament appearances, 20 postseason tournament appearances, seven Conference Regular Season Championships and five Southeastern Conference Tournament Championships.