Inspiring Students to be Professionally READY

Accepted into the 2023 Henry Clay College Student Congress

International Relations & Political Science Major French & Economics Minor Honors Scholar

This summer, Alexandra Bennett will represent the state of Pennsylvania at the Henry Clay College Student Congress. She will work alongside fifty other rising college seniors from across the United States to gain hands-on experience with our nation’s policy process. Together, they will research and develop bipartisan solutions while networking with lawmakers, policy advisors, and government relations leaders.

“I am looking forward to incorporating what I have learned from my political science and international relations classes into realworld approaches and policies in addition to networking with my peers.”

CONGRATULATIONS to Miranda Keith for receiving the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Award in Taiwan. Keith, a senior from Asheville, NC, first learned about the Fulbright U.S. Student Program through her adviser, Dr. Laura Alexander in the English Department. She quickly connected with Dr. Cotton, Director for Fellowships and Awards, to learn about the application process.

Miranda Keith Class of 2023

Recipient

English & Biology Major Chinese Minor Honors Scholar

For Sopheea Mink and Megan Kratzer, committing to HPU was an easy decision. Being avid volleyball players, both women saw an opportunity to receive an extraordinary education while continuing their love for the sport. Off the court, Mink and Kratzer have taken advantage of the abundant opportunities available over the last four years.

As soon as Mink entered the Sociology and Anthropology Department, she found her passion. “What led me to love the major was that I found it applicable to everyday life.” She coupled the major with a minor in Environmental Studies and dove deeply into researching social issues such as the effects of pesticides on children’s health and farmworkers, which she presented at last year’s High-PURCS. Mink also devised an action plan to assess the water quality of High Point and specifically measure PFAs, a forever chemical that is found on the coast of NC. After graduation, she plans to purse an MBA to bring her passion for sustainability and social responsibility to a corporate environment.

Kratzer pursued a major in French because she loved the language. Combined with her math majors, studying French offered her creative classes where she could explore a different culture. This April, she will present her research on French Secularism at High-PURCS and in May, she will study abroad in Paris, France before attending graduate school at Syracuse University. “Studying a foreign language helped me broaden my communication skill set,” says Kratzer, “and has made a very positive impact on my college experience as a whole. I’m thankful for all the support offered by the professors.”

Sociology & Anthropology Major Environmental Science Minor

James Last, a senior from Statesville, NC, exemplifies HPU’s “God, family, country” values. As a Religion and Strategic Communication Major, Last is driven to connect with others in a meaningful way. He brings the two majors together through his behind-the-scenes work at HPU’s Hayworth Chapel. Over the last three years, he’s helped with Wednesday night worship, doing all things digital.

This summer, he is taking his value-based skills to El Paso, Texas. There he will serve as Creative Intern for Casas Por Christo, a non-profit that builds houses in five cities across Central America. As Creative Intern, Last will work on the social media marketing team and help produce content to further the non-profit’s mission. He hopes to build a career in Christian Media after completing this internship.

French, Actuarial Science, Data Analytics & Statistics Major

Casas Por Christo

Religion & Strategic Communication Major Presidential Scholar