HPU Magazine 2025

Prioritizing Professional and Personal Growth

Discover how the Premier Life Skills University is focused on crafting character and careers.

Celebrating HPU’s Record Enrollment and Major Milestones

It’s a banner year in every way for High Point University. While the HPU family celebrates the university’s centennial anniversary, an extraordinary future continues to unfold.

In addition to growing HPU from just three to 14 academic schools in 2005, from just 90 to 520 acres and nearly quadrupling enrollment, HPU President Nido Qubein also led the university to accomplish these milestones as part of its transformational growth plan.

Milestones achieved this academic year include:

Named #1 Best-Run College in the Nation by The Princeton Review, among other accolades

Welcomed 1,650 new students, the largest group of new students in history

Welcomed more than the largest total enrollment in history 6,300 students,

Opened the Workman School of Dental Medicine, the state’s only private dental school, with 60 students, pictured left

Opened the Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law with more than 70 students, pictured left

Dear HPU Family,

As we celebrate High Point University’s centennial anniversary, some important lessons are ever-present in my mind:

“How you change is how you succeed.”

“What you choose is what you get.”

And “Who you spend time with is who you become.”

I often share these pertinent principles with students in my First-Year Seminar on Life Skills. I want it to transform their lives as it has transformed mine.

These fundamentals represent some of the essence of HPU. Our university has been nurtured by leaders with faithful courage for the last 100 years, from our founding in 1924 to today.

I proudly celebrate the 100th anniversary of a school I love, my alma mater.

And as we celebrate our past, we also look to the future with extraordinary expectations to enroll and graduate students who will make our world a better place.

Transformation is in Our DNA

While we could never fit them all in one publication, you’ll see a few of the people who helped HPU become extraordinary, both past and present, throughout the pages of this magazine. You’ll also learn about our commitment to continued excellence.

If you aren’t already familiar with the transformation that has taken place at HPU in recent years, I invite you to visit our campus. The energy will penetrate your soul, the campus will inspire you, and our distinctive educational model will make you long to be here.

You’ll also discover that HPU was ahead of the curve.

Years before the global pandemic, we began to focus on instilling Premier Life Skills in students — the kind that ensure they can navigate ambiguity, adapt in rapidly changing conditions, solve complex problems, communicate well and represent the organization where they work at the highest level. These are skills that employers now say many college graduates across the nation lack, in part, due to the pandemic. Employers also say these are the skills that are the hardest to teach once they hire new college graduates. At HPU, we had already committed to prioritizing life skills education along with technical skills.

Before some colleges across the nation began to financially struggle and before families began questioning the value of college, we knew an educational rebirth was needed. After all, today’s college students don’t just need a degree. They require a transformational experience that prepares them to thrive in a constantly shifting marketplace.

From our curriculum to our facilities and student support services, we enhanced every aspect of the student experience. We sought to remove barriers sometimes caused by bureaucratic processes, and we challenged our faculty and staff to be laser-focused on student success.

They answered the call. We grew from approximately 100 faculty in 2005 to nearly 500 today. Campus grew from 91 to 520 acres, featuring dozens of state-of-art facilities in business, dental medicine, engineering, law, nursing, the sciences and liberal arts. Total enrollment went from 1,673 traditional undergraduate and graduate students to 6,300 today.

HPU’s growth was so unprecedented that I’ve recently chronicled our innovative methods in a new book titled “Extraordinary Transformation.” It’s already a best seller on both Amazon and Barnes & Nobles. The book

discusses how anyone can apply the principles and mindset we applied to transform their own personal and business life. Grab a copy. You’ll enjoy it.

The impressive additions to our academic programs are possible because we are fiscally and operationally strong. And, of course, because we always implement sustainable business principles throughout the entire process to set HPU up for long-term success.

I am proud of where we are, yet we are not finished! We have endless opportunities ahead for purposeful growth and success. We thank you for your support and advocacy.

Consider where HPU might be today if we had not strived for greatness. What if we had settled for mediocrity or let the world guide our fate rather than blazing our own path? What then would our future look like?

Of course, that is not HPU’s story. We continue to attract stellar faculty, committed staff and exceptional students and families who want to walk side-by-side and hand-in-hand with us. They believe in our call to action: Choose to Be Extraordinary! And they strive to live it every day.

Results Rule

We pursued our innovative transformation because we are focused on the success of our students. We know that student outcomes are the greatest measurement of success.

Consider the fact that 99% of our graduates are employed or in graduate school within 180 days of graduating. That’s 14 points higher than the national average, and that’s why we do what we do!

HPU has created many forward-thinking programs and experiences that students won’t find elsewhere. Our students and parents appreciate HPU’s Access to Innovators program, which brings scores of global leaders to campus to mentor students and create invaluable career connections. Where else can they learn from Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak, HPU’s Innovator in Residence; Netflix Co-Founder Marc Randolph, HPU’s Entrepreneur in Residence; Teena Piccione, Google’s Global Transformation Executive and HPU’s Data Expert in Residence; the board chairs of AT&T, Domino’s, American Red Cross; and many others?

Our Office of Career and Professional Development provides one-on-one career advisement meetings, hosts Career Expos and takes students to meet

successful alumni, parents and friends of HPU in major metropolitan areas like New York and Washington, D.C. You can even read on page 68 about how 2018 graduate Marco Sebastian began his career at Bloomberg thanks to HPU in the City trips.

I marvel at the success of our graduates like Marco, who returns to campus often to mentor students. In the last year alone, young alumni who lead careers at JPMorgan Chase, MLB, Deloitte, CNBC, Rolling Stone Magazine, NBA, Live Nation, NBCUniversal and many other industries, including those who serve as doctors and lawyers, have returned to campus to mentor students and make invaluable career connections.

I believe wholeheartedly in the authentic culture of the HPU family. We care for each other. We lift each other up. And we embody the spirit of transformation. Our students know a thing or two about transformation because they have lived and learned on a campus that is transformative. And that, too, will benefit them throughout their lives.

We are grateful for the parents, students, alumni, philanthropic supporters and committed advocates who champion our cause and propel our stewardship along this journey. It’s an extraordinary story with many chapters ahead.

And I hope to see you on our campus soon. There’s no substitute for experiencing HPU in person.

Sincerely,

Nido R. Qubein President nqubein@highpoint.edu

Go behind the scenes of HPU’s unprecedented growth in President Qubein’s new book, “Extraordinary Transformation.” All proceeds support student scholarships.

INNOVATION ACADEMIC

(noun)

Curriculum, learning environments and accomplished professors that collectively transform the lives of students. A commitment to lifelong learning and the pursuit of excellence inside and outside the classroom. Creating relevance for today’s students to become tomorrow’s leaders.

As one of many examples of Ivy League-level labs and learning facilities on campus, pictured is the HPU Workman School of Dental Medicine’s Haptic Simulation Lab with 10 SIMtoCARE dental simulation units. This technology allows future dentists to practice and gain an understanding of what a variety of procedures will feel like before clinical experience begins.

A LEGACY OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

The largest academic expansion in HPU’s 100-year history is underway.

Excellence inside and outside the classroom has been a priority for President Nido Qubein as growth and new opportunities have bolstered student success.

Here’s a glimpse of the paths and educational experiences HPU students can pursue now that the university has grown from just three to a robust 14 academic schools since 2005. More than 80 degree programs are now offered.

Dr. Racquel Ingram (right), the founding dean for HPU’s Teresa Caine School of Nursing, was a formidable mentor to Piper Dillon (left), one of HPU’s first BSN graduates in 2024. Learn more about the new nursing school on page 36.

Inside the Webb School of Engineering

What do engineers do? They make the world work. They’re inventors who get their hands dirty. They’re team builders. They’re business leaders who make high-flying ideas fit bottom-line reality.

At HPU, whether you major in computer engineering, electrical engineering or allied fields like cybersecurity, computer science or data science, you will work harder than you’ve ever worked before. And you’ll love it.

In HPU’s Webb School of Engineering, the intimate classes include 24 or fewer students, and there are no graduate teaching assistants professors teach every class. That personal attention pays off as students benefit from one-on-one mentorship.

Engineering is a big part of HPU’s $500 million Innovation Corridor, a half-mile stretch of campus where the university has made an unparalleled commitment to STEM programs, faculty and facilities.

There’s no question about it engineering is tough. But Dr. Michael Oudshoorn, the engineering school’s dean, leads caring faculty who are committed to student success.

“You’ll get support, access and personal relationships with professors who prepare you to succeed,” Oudshoorn said.

The equipment is first class, with notably state-of-the-art STEM facilities and programs. The MakerSpace is open 24/7. Want to access it at 2 a.m. Sunday morning? Go for it. Starting freshman year, students use laser cutters, PCB mills, computercontrolled routers, vacuum

formers, and cutting-edge soldering gear. There’s no waiting to be an upperclassman like at other schools.

Learning never ends as an engineer, especially in cybersecurity. At HPU, students test their skills at CELF the Cybersecurity Learning Facility, a lab with its own internet connection. They protect information systems, find vulnerabilities and blind spots, and test software fixes. HPU’s cybersecurity squad ranks high in state and national meets.

HPU provides access to the big leagues, too. Engineering students intern at places like NASA and BMW. On campus, they also work alongside industry giants like Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak, HPU’s Innovator in Residence.

After earning her computer science degree with a concentration in cybersecurity in 2024, Hanna Zelis headed to graduate school at Northwestern University to pursue her M.S. in artificial intelligence. She was admitted into multiple other prestigious graduate programs at Johns Hopkins

Hanna Zelis, a 2024 computer science graduate, is now pursuing her master’s degree in AI. She is pictured with a part of the biofeedback-mediated virtual reality experience she and her classmates designed to help individuals confront their phobias.

University, Carnegie Mellon University, Duke University and more.

“I chose HPU because of its strong emphasis on its STEM programs and the access it provides to new technologies,” said Zelis, who also served as president of HPU Minds, a student-led project in collaboration with Wozniak. “At larger universities, I may have had to compete for the opportunity to use these technologies. HPU’s smaller school size ensured me the access to these resources, which ultimately led me to decide on attending HPU.”

ACCESS TO THE APPLE CO-FOUNDER

HPU connects students with world-class leaders like Apple Co-Founder and electrical engineer Steve Wozniak. He’s HPU’s Innovator in Residence. He comes to campus to meet small student groups, and he works with computer science and engineering majors on robotics projects. It’s not a one-time thing. He stays in touch. “I am always reachable,” he recently told engineering students. “You have full access to me.”

Be a Media Marvel

The Nido R. Qubein School of Communication gives students the mentors, technology and experience to be media stars, whether behind the scenes or live on the internet.

With nearly 700 students and nine majors, HPU’s second-largest school is robust and well-equipped. It’s a breeze to test the waters in different specialties and find your niche. No matter what your interest is, HPU’s got you covered.

Be part of a live broadcast in a completely renovated television studio, which professors designed to meet Hollywood standards. They should know many of them, including Joe Michaels, professor of the practice of communication, worked in the industry for years. Michaels was the director of NBC’s “TODAY” Show for nearly 22 years.

Explore a social media simulator, and get Hootsuite Certified. Make your own podcasts in the Podcast Recording Studio.

Maybe creating ads is your thing. Join Ascension 336, a communications agency run by students. They create campaigns, videos and graphic design for real-world clients. Or go to the Beacon Lab to do research using eye tracking, galvanic skin response and heart rate monitoring.

How about public relations?

Check out HPU’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter. It’s for students who want to solve real-world PR problems in national competitions.

Want to make a movie? More than 40 cameras are ready for you to check out. Then head to the Screening Room to analyze short films you and your classmates produce.

Influencers, public relations executives, game designers, sports marketers, social media masters and journalists have one thing in common they know how to use words, images, software, and even the old-fashioned human voice to get a message out, one that informs, intrigues and, most of all,

HOLLYWOOD STANDARD

HPU provides a top-of-the-line TV studio and podcast studio. Pictured is student Ethan Parker (right) interviewing Sellers Shy, CBS Sports’ Lead Golf Producer and HPU’s Network Television Producer in Residence, inside the podcast studio.

persuades. At HPU, students have access to the type of out-of-theclassroom experiences that give them a portfolio chocked full of work that will impress employers.

Where do HPU graduates work? Places like the NBA headquarters, CNBC, Epic Games, Rolling Stone Magazine, Dell Technologies, Fox News, CBS, Disney, Marriott, NASCAR, the U.S. Senate, Busch Gardens, the Green Bay Packers, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the NHL’s New York Islanders, the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, and a slew of other nationally and internationally renowned companies.

Take Annie Borovskiy, a 2024 sport management graduate, for example. She launched her career as an inside sales representative for the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets. It’s a role she landed long before graduation through a connection made when she and her peers competed at the Sport, Entertainment, Venues of Tomorrow (SEVT) Conference.

“I was able to make a connection with the Nets after attending SEVT in 2023,” Borovskiy says. “On the last day of the conference, there is a fantastic career and internship fair where I met as many organizations as I could. The Nets happened to be one of them. A few calls and interviews later, I knew I made the best decision for my career.

“HPU offers an abundance of opportunities across all corners of campus academically, and as I reflect, I truly believe I have received a once-in-a-lifetime extraordinary education.”

Annie Borovskiy

Teach by Doing—And Change Lives

A light-bulb moment. That’s when teachers look into a child’s eyes and see the light of understanding turn on. You’ve taught her something. He’s learned a new concept. Bingo! There’s nothing like it. It’s the best feeling in the world. That’s why HPU education majors want to be teachers to shape minds, to create a better world.

Choose from five specializations at HPU’s Stout School of Education elementary education, middle grades education, secondary education, health and physical education, and special education. Learn in three new learning labs devoted to literacy, special education and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).

HPU’s School of Education is one of only a handful of universities to receive three Teacher Quality Partnership grants totaling nearly $28 million from the U.S. Department of Education over the last several years. That’s $28 million to boost the number of elite

teachers in 18 North Carolina school districts.

What if an education major wants to teach in another state? For those who get licensed here, most states have reciprocity agreements.

The National Council on Teacher Quality gives HPU’s undergraduate program an “A” for its rigorous preparation of teachers on how to teach reading. They get real-world teaching experience and go to K-12 schools every year (including freshman year). They become full-time student teachers during their senior year, and they can earn a master’s degree in one year or go on to earn a Ph.D.

HPU is an education leader the Adapted Curriculum Learning Lab is North Carolina’s first to support special education. And that’s hardly the only lab.

More than 16,000 local children have taken part in HPU’s STEM Camps, Robotic Build Competitions, and LEGO Showcases. HPU’s education majors help those children physically get a grip on STEM concepts.

Education majors can also contribute programming, volunteer and intern at the Nido and Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum located a few blocks from campus. New in 2022, this $30 million facility has 75,000 square feet of exhibit space. It won Visitor Attraction of the Year honors from the North Carolina Travel Industry Association.

Teachers change the world. HPU gives you the confidence and inspiration to change lives for a better tomorrow.

The Stout School of Education has received $28 million in grants in recent years to help boost the number of elite teachers in 18 North Carolina school districts.

Top left: Ashley Cluff, who pursued her Master of Arts in Teaching, led fifth-grade students in a STEM Camp activity focused on renewable energy. The STEM Camp is one of many ways HPU education majors give back to the community while gaining experience.

Fertile Ground for Business and Entrepreneurship

A business jet is ready for take-off inside Cottrell Hall, home to many departments at HPU that are focused on sales training, experiential learning and professional development. This mock-up has first-class seating. It’s part of the experiential learning students get in the business curriculum. The purpose? So, students can practice their sales, networking and communication skills. Choose from majors that range from accounting and business administration to sales, marketing and finance. Whatever path you choose, just like an executive,

you’ll learn to see the big picture and how all parts of a business contribute to its success.

You’ll be in good company. The Earl N. Phillips School of Business and the David S. Congdon School of Entrepreneurship have a combined total of nearly 1,800 students. Your professors come from the real world. Accounting professor

George Noxon hails from PricewaterhouseCoopers. Finance professor Thomas James worked at General Foods. Marketing professor Alyssa Haynes was at Johnson & Johnson. They made crucial decisions about the success of products and services. Their hard-earned wisdom will become part of your DNA.

Entrepreneurship major Eli Sommer (top) was awarded third place and $5,000 in HPU’s Annual Business Plan Competition for his business, Forthright Homes. Pictured from left to right below are HPU’s Elevator Pitch Competition winners: Reeve Fatuova with $3,000, Vivian Love with $7,000, and Jasmine Bennett and Gena Ghandour with $5,000.

You’ll get real-world preparation outside lecture halls. HPU’s Beacon Lab uses biometric evaluation to teach better marketing decisions. In the Tilley Trading Room, you’ll learn to make trades in real-time as a digital stock ticker orbits the room.

You’ll also get many chances to pitch business ideas on and off campus. The Entrepreneurship Center lets you go head-to-head against your peers, share business plans, win money and present to top business leaders. You might take home a cash prize in the Elevator Pitch Competition during Global Entrepreneurship Week. The Business Plan Competition offers up to $30,000 in start-up money, and you can go on to compete against other schools.

International business is a major, too. Combine it with in-depth study of Chinese, French, Italian or Spanish. Maymester travel gives you the chance to spend a month abroad studying at foreign universities. After graduation, hard work pays off for HPU’s business majors. Graduates have jobs at Disney, Target, Coca-Cola, Mutual of Omaha, Staples, the Boston Bruins, Google, General Electric, JPMorgan Chase and BNY Mellon.

What’s behind such stellar outcomes? At HPU, every student gets a personal mentor a Success Coach. They’ll teach you key lessons about accountability, discipline and teamwork.

Internships along the way will prepare you. Professional career advisers in the Office of Career and Professional Development will help you identify your interests, values and workplace preferences.

Just ask Jack LaSalla. He turned a summer 2023 internship at BNY Mellon into a full-time job offer from the bank nearly one year before he

graduated in 2024.

“There are many classes at HPU that give you the foundation for business so that when you go into the workforce, you can apply it to the projects you’re working on,” says LaSalla, who is now a Global Finance Leadership Program Analyst. “There are also many learning labs that can be used to prepare you for etiquette in a social setting with managers. I used the etiquette I learned at HPU to stand out amongst my peers at the lunch or dinner table. There were many professors who mentored me in my classes and gave me advice on the academic work I was doing, but also how to apply it in the workforce.”

Science Opportunities Soar

The sciences are strong at HPU. With new multi-million-dollar facilities, expert faculty and some of the best equipment found on a college campus, students studying undergraduate sciences and health and wellness are learning to exceed their own expectations.

At the Wanek School of Natural Sciences, the sky’s the limit. In the Culp Planetarium, an astrophysicist is tackling research for NASA. The Insectary Lab swarms with new ways to battle mosquitoes. At the Zebrafish Lab, students explore how this tropical fish holds secrets of human healing.

Whether you major in biology, biochemistry, chemistry or neuroscience, you will study under professors who will support and nurture you as you become a science leader of tomorrow.

It all happens in a $65 million, 128-square-foot facility, new in 2019, where four floors of classrooms and cutting-edge labs are designed to maximize learning and make the highest and best use of the latest teaching technologies. Want to help find a cure for cancer? Make it happen in the Cell Culture Facility. Use digital microscopes and the newest incubators to tease out the mysteries behind normal and cancerous cell growth.

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Lab ranks as one of the largest labs on campus. Here you can safely work with live materials and chemicals alongside some of the nation’s best professors.

Jack LaSalla

The Cell Culture Facility is one of many high-tech labs inside the Wanek School of Natural Sciences.

Preparing Future Health Care Providers

Health care leads the way in both the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy and the Congdon School of Health Sciences.

In one mammoth complex known as Congdon Hall, both academic schools have

their own research labs, study areas, classrooms and collaboration spaces.

This is where future pharmacists, biomedical scientists, physician assistants, physical therapists, and athletic trainers learn how to care for patients, improve their lives or speed up their recovery.

Many simulation labs in these facilities bring students as close as possible to working

with real patients, while other labs bring patients directly to the students.

For pharmacy students, simulated retail and hospital pharmacy environments provide insight and practice for communicating with patients in different settings. They’re also equipped to record and help students evaluate their own communication with people who pretend to be real patients.

Academic excellence is the foundation for every major at HPU, and that’s evident in the vast success of graduates. As just two of many examples, both the physician assistant studies program in the Congdon School of Health Sciences and the Bachelor of Arts teacher licensure program in the Stout School of Education earned top scores in their respective board exams.

For the last two years, HPU’s physician assistant graduates have achieved a perfect 100 first-time score on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).

The Class of 2023 and 2024 in the undergraduate education program also received a 100% pass rate on the Educative Teacher Performance Assessment. The national pass rate is only 72%.

Physician assistant student Micaela Schempf is one of several HPU students and faculty who have provided free back-toschool health assessments to children through the Guilford County Department of Public Health.

NIH-funded research is also underway in several labs, including some of the most advanced research facilities available for medical biochemistry, medicinal chemistry and pharmacological research.

Nowhere else on the East Coast will you find anything like the Human Biomechanics and Physiology Lab. It’s one of a kind. Pro golfers and football players flock here. No wonder. HPU’s physical therapy professors offer them access to a zero-gravity treadmill, high-speed 3D motion-analysis cameras, a bone density scanner and an environmental chamber.

The mysteries of the human body wait for you to unlock them.

Besides a human anatomy and cadaver lab, simulation rooms are ready for your hands-on attention with lifelike mannequins.

Helping real patients will be your life. A Virtual Reality and Clinical Gait Analysis Lab gives you a place to treat men and women and collect data for publication-quality research.

The Pro Bono Physical Therapy Clinic sees patients five days a week from 8-5. It’s led by a full-time clinician. You’ll get priceless experience helping patients who otherwise would be unable to afford treatments. You will help get them back to full health.

After receiving a wealth of experience on campus, students head to clinical rotations off campus to put what they’ve learned into practice. They’re beyond ready to help patients improve their lives or conduct high-level research that impacts their field. ■

TOP 2% OF SCIENTISTS WORLDWIDE

Two High Point University faculty members are included in Stanford University’s annual list of the top 2% of scientists cited by other researchers around the world.

Dr. Kevin Ford, dean of the Congdon School of Health Sciences and professor of physical therapy, and Dr. David Sinacore, a physical therapist and professor of physical therapy, are featured in the recently released StanfordElsevier rankings of citations, which appear on academic papers and refer to earlier research. The number of times a researcher’s work is referenced in other peer-related work is an important indicator of their research impact and reputation.

HPU’s Human Biomechanics and Physiology Lab consists of 16,000 square feet of awe-inspiring research, teaching and clinical space. The combination of technology in the lab and the range of expertise provided by faculty is unmatched.

The Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy provides high-tech labs and simulated spaces, including this retail pharmacy space, that prepare students for real-world work settings.

Dr. Kevin Ford Dr. David Sinacore

Extraordinary Years 100

A History of Transformational

Leadership

Joseph Flavius McCulloch

These early photos show Roberts Hall, the first building constructed on the High Point College campus that still stands today, and a 1925 group photo of faculty and students on the building’s steps.

High Point University’s 100-year history reveals a common thread from founder to present-day leader Nido Qubein.

Near Phillips Hall, a plaque bears the name of the man who started it all, founder Joseph Flavius McCulloch. His efforts to open High Point College began in the late 1800s. He dreamed big.

Beside the plaque is a bench with a quote that shows how big. It’s from writer and philosopher Henry David Thoreau: “The world is but a canvas to our imagination.”

FROM A FOUNDER WHO DREAMED BIG TO A VISIONARY

A modern aerial map illustrates how HPU has flourished from a once small, regional college into a bustling, 520-acre university that attracts students from all over the world.

Across the street is the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication. It represents not only one of nearly a dozen academic schools that have opened since Qubein was appointed president in 2005, but also transformational leadership.

Transformation is High Point College and High Point University then and now. The beginning of HPU’s story started with a transformational leader just as it thrives under a transformational leader today.

PRESIDENT, HPU HAS A LEGACY OF TRAILBLAZING

HPU President Nido R. Qubein

Symbols of history can be found across HPU’s campus, from the historical marker pictured left, to the Yadkin College Bell stationed outside of Finch Hall. Yadkin College was a Methodist-supported school founded in the area in 1850s. It closed in 1924 just as High Point College opened, and Yadkin College students found a new home here.

The Dreamer Whose Dream Came True

Joseph Flavius McCulloch grew up 19 miles east of HPU in a rural community known as Pleasant Garden. He became a printer and journeyed to Michigan’s Adrian College to become a Methodist minister. Years later, after doing graduate work in two other universities, the Rev. McCulloch went back to his alma mater to teach math and become its president. His tenure brought many sleepless nights. When he finally got to sleep one night, McCulloch dreamed about creating a college that, as he says, “should be in the moral sense a type of what all colleges should be.”

Around the time, he read about how the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Protestant Church wanted to start a college somewhere in his home state. Someone sent him that article. He didn’t know who. But he did know how it happened—divine intervention.

In 1894, he came to North Carolina for the church’s annual conference, and when he heard the organization tabled the idea after receiving one small pledge, McCulloch had some stern words for its members.

“Gentlemen,” he said, “it takes men of faith to bring things to pass.”

McCulloch got busy raising funds. In 1901, he convinced Kernersville businessman John Calvin Roberts to pledge $10,000. A few years later, he started a

newspaper in nearby Greensboro to drum up support among the many Methodist churches statewide. He called his newspaper the Methodist Protestant Herald. He did everything from printing to editing.

Meanwhile, a three-member committee from the North Carolina Conference traveled the state by car and train talking to Methodist congregations. By the spring of 1921, with the help of McCulloch’s newspaper, the committee raised $120,000.

That year, Methodist leaders visited three cities lobbying for the college—Burlington, Greensboro and High Point. They chose High Point when they heard city officials would donate 60 acres and $100,000. The day after the announcement, the High Point Enterprise ran on its front page a huge banner headline: College Comes Here.

The 60 acres near downtown were once home to the famous British regiment known as the Fraser’s Highlanders. They camped there before the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, one of the most important battles of the Revolutionary War.

Then, those 60 acres became home to High Point College. McCulloch and the school’s Board of Trustees ultimately appointed Robert Macon Andrews as the first president. Classes began the second Sunday of September 1924 with nine faculty members and 122 students. They came to a campus with three buildings: a men’s residence hall, a women’s residence hall and a

Through the Years

1920s

JUNE 29

1922

A large crowd gathered on this Thursday in June to hear speeches and lay the cornerstone for Roberts Hall, the first building at High Point College. The three-story building was named after the college’s first big donor, John Calvin Roberts. He was a local businessman who donated $10,000 to help start the college. Roberts Hall became the heart of the college with offices, classrooms and laboratories, a dining room, bookstore, library and an auditorium that also was the chapel. For decades, Roberts Hall became the brick-and-mortar symbol of the school. Roberts Hall was completed in 1923. Total cost: $120,000.

JULY

1924

The North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church unanimously selected Dr. Robert Andrews as the first president of High Point College. Andrews had been an early advocate for establishing a Methodist college in North Carolina. He was the president of the North Carolina Conference and helped fundraise for the college. Andrews stepped down as president in March 1930. He remained a member of the college’s Board of Trustees until 1936.

FALL

'30s

JUNE

15

SEPTEMBER

1924

Classes began on Sept. 14, 1924, with nine faculty members, 122 students and three buildings on the 60-acre campus. Every student, except for three, came from North Carolina. Ten majors were offered: biology/chemistry, education, English, history, home economics, Latin/Greek, mathematics/ physics, French/German/Spanish, religious education, and pre-medicine. The Rev. Percy E. Lindley became the dean of High Point College and served until 1939.

“"So whereas a generation or so ago, the motto ran, ‘Go west, young man,’ let it now say, ‘Go within, young man.’ The heart is the control room of life.”

The Rev. Percy E. Lindley, Rise Up and Walk, 1948

1933 As the fourth year of the Great Depression began, High Point College needed to attract more students after amassing substantial debt. So, college officials allowed students from rural North Carolina to pay half of their expenses with what was grown or raised on their farm, including vegetables, corn, wheat, chickens, hog meat, beef, cotton and peanuts.

1934

Despite a fundraising campaign that raised $50,000, High Point College struggled like many colleges during the Great Depression. Dr. Gideon Humphreys, the second president of High Point College, filed for bankruptcy to protect the college and keep it open. After 1934, with the help of Humphreys’ leadership, the college never operated at a deficit ever again. More students came, and costs were reduced. Meanwhile, Methodist congregations across North Carolina rallied to support High Point College by donating what they could and holding fundraisers, including selling pencils.

1935

The Order of the Lighted Lamp was founded and became a joint movement of the faculty and students to encourage high academic standards at a time when High Point College was struggling to draw students and raise its profile. Today, the Order of the Lighted Lamp is the university’s oldest honor society. Every year, the Order of the Lighted Lamp publishes a journal that highlights the scholarly research of students and faculty at HPU. Dr. Robert Moses, the journal’s editor and associate professor of religion, said in 2021: “We have so much to be proud of. We have all these scholars who are ambitious and contributing to their field, and they’re putting High Point University on the map.” The Order of the Lighted Lamp Plaza is an outdoor space on campus named to honor the society and the achievements of its members. The plaza is located on HPU’s Innovation Corridor and surrounded by many academic facilities.

MAY

1937

Louise C. Wrenn, a member of the college’s Board of Trustees, had announced at the 1935 graduation that she would fund the construction of a library in memory of her husband, M.J. Wrenn, a former trustee who died in February 1934. Louise Wrenn took her husband’s place on the board. In the 1992 book, “Remembered Be Thy Blessings: High Point University, the College Years 1924-1992,” Dr. Richard B. McCaslin wrote: “Her decision, which brought a sustained standing ovation, was seen as a declaration of faith that the College would survive the Depression and might even be turning the corner.” The M.J. Wrenn Library was dedicated at the May 1937 commencement. Today, Wrenn Library is now Wrenn Hall, the home of HPU’s Office of Admissions.

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APRIL

5

1943

'40s '50s

The 326th College Training Detachment arrived on campus this first Monday in April. They moved into the third floor of McCulloch Hall, the men’s residence hall, and began six weeks of training and taking college classes. Once they left, another detachment took their place. By June 1944, 753 cadets earned college credit. Two years earlier, High Point College served as an Interceptor Command Observation Post by stationing students in the Roberts Hall Tower to watch for and report any sightings of enemy planes. In December 1941, the United States entered the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and soon afterward 26 graduates of High Point College and nine seniors joined the military.

FALL

1944

Nancy Isenhour became the first woman in America to play on a men’s college basketball team. She played basketball on the men’s team at High Point College, and Coach Virgil Yow recruited her because only 80 men had enrolled that fall semester. The story only gained traction when her photo appeared in a local newspaper and went national when a writer from Collier’s, a national general interest magazine, saw the photo during a stop at a train depot in North Carolina. Her story appeared in the January 1945 issue of Collier’s under the headline, “Panther Girl.”

OCTOBER 5

1945

President Harry Truman awarded Marine Jack Lucas the Medal of Honor for his valor he showed during the Battle of Iwo Jima in February 1945. He and three other Marines jumped into a foxhole for safety to escape Japanese soldiers. The Japanese soldiers threw two grenades into the foxhole. Lucas threw himself on top of one enemy grenade and pulled the second one under his body. Lucas, who was just 17 at the time, enlisted with his parents’ consent. His efforts that day saved the lives of his three fellow Marines. Yet, his heroism left him with more than 250 pieces of shrapnel in his entire body. Lucas underwent 26 surgeries and later enrolled at High Point College. He earned a business administration degree in 1956.

MAY

1949

Dr. Dennis Cooke became the third president of High Point College. During his decade-long tenure, he doubled the endowment, eradicated deficit spending and helped the college gain accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as well as from the University Senate of the Methodist Church. He oversaw the creation of two new departments Fine Arts and Sociology and increased the number of faculty from 38 to 55. In his inaugural address in February 1950, Cooke said: “We are not allergic to becoming a larger institution, but we must ‘get better’ before we have the right to ‘get bigger.’”

NOVEMBER

1950

High Point College started a football program in the fall of 1925. Jack Boylin became the coach, and he recruited players from as far away as Minnesota to play for a team called the Purple Panthers. High Point College’s biggest rival was Guilford College in nearby Greensboro. In 1927, High Point College beat Guilford 7-3 during what Hi-Po, the college’s newspaper, called the “The Greatest Football Season in History.” College officials sidelined the football program twice because of a lack of student athletes. When World War II ended, High Point College resurrected its football program, but by the fall of 1950, High Point College discontinued the program for good because of its expense.

DECEMBER

1951

High Point College received a huge academic lift when it gained accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Founded in 1895, the agency’s mission is to assure the educational quality and improve the effectiveness of its 13,000 public and private member institutions throughout the South. In the High Point Enterprise, HPC President Dr. Dennis Cooke called the decision a “high and valued honor.”

MARCH

1959

After his decade-long tenure, Dr. Dennis Cooke stepped down as college president. He told the Board of Trustees they needed to find a president with business experience who had the ability to raise large sums of money. Cooke said: “While I feel that my 10 years as president of High Point College have been very successful in doing what the College needed to have done during this period, I am equally sure that I am not the man to do it on the scale that is necessary.” The board chose Dr. Wendell Patton, an academic and a businessman. He helped the college create the Golden Decade, a 10-year plan focusing on fundraising and growth. The plan was carried out in three phases. The college’s endowment grew, Millis and Belk residence halls were built, and the Hayworth Hall of Science was completed. High Point College raised more than $5.1 million during those 10 years. Patton stepped down as president in 1980.

'60s '70s

FALL

1962

Ammie Jenkins became the first Black student to enroll in High Point College. She and her husband borrowed $360 from a local bank to make it happen. Before her first day of class, HPC

President Wendell Patton invited her into his office and asked, “Do you realize what you’re going to go through?” Jenkins said yes. She started High Point College during a time when sit-ins and civil rights marches were happening across the South. She studied at HPC for two years. In August 2019, HPU awarded her an honorary degree. Weeks later, she said: “When I received that degree, I was accepted by all of those people who had invested in me in one way or another. They are people who impacted my life and I’ve learned from them. When you see me, you see them.”

SPRING

1963 Apogee, the college’s literary magazine that showcases students’ creativity, published its first issue. It included 50 pages of poetry, essays, book reviews and pen-and-ink drawings. More than a half century later, Apogee is still going strong. The magazine shows what hasn’t changed on campus students’ creativity.

SPRING

NOVEMBER

1971

The tradition of freshmen wearing hats called “beanies” was phased out following a declaration by the Student Government Association. The idea of wearing a cap started when the college began in 1924. The tradition was tabled in 1929. Then, in May 1955, a bill passed by the SGA required freshmen to wear caps until Thanksgiving to distinguish themselves from upperclassmen. If freshmen didn’t wear it, they were fined, and the money was used to pay for a dance on campus. In the late 1960s, the caps became controversial. Right before Thanksgiving in 1971, the SGA ceased the college’s cap-wearing tradition.

NOVEMBER

Through his generous donation, Charles E. Hayworth Jr. helped build the first chapel at High Point College. Completed in November 1972, the chapel honored and is named for Hayworth’s father. That contribution began the Hayworth family’s support of the college that later became High Point University. In 2019, Hayworth’s son, David, donated $500,000 to renovate the chapel. Since 1972, the Hayworth family has invested more than $25 million in the university. Today, the chapel has become the spiritual center of all faiths on campus.

FALL

1965

The Mace became a new symbol at graduation in 1965 and continues to lead the line of march during Commencement ceremonies today.

The first HPU mace was designed this same year by assistant professor of art, Raiford Porter. Carved from pecan wood, the top of the mace reveals the lamp of learning. The Mace was historically an emblem of authority, dating back to the reign of James I of England. In academic use, it serves as a symbol of the university’s official body of scholars. The Office of the Provost, located in Roberts Hall, proudly displays the mace throughout the year.

MAY

1968

1972

Jerry Steele became the head basketball coach and athletic director at High Point College. He was the coach for 32 years and remained the school’s athletic director for 26 years. His teams won eight conference titles, made one appearance in the NAIA Men’s Basketball Championships, and earned two trips to the NCAA Division II men’s basketball tournament. Steele, a member of five athletic halls of fame, died in July 2021 at age 82. Dan Hauser, vice president and director of athletics, said: “Jerry Steele was an icon of High Point University Athletics, and his impact at HPU will live on forever.”

The athletic center on campus is named after him and his wife, Kitty, who coached tennis and field hockey at HPU for 20 years. Like her husband, she also is a High Point College legend.

Shelby Jean Wilkes became the first Black student to graduate from High Point College. Wilkes was a High Point native and a graduate of William Penn High, the all-Black school less than a mile from High Point College. As a student, she was a member of the campus thespian club known as the Tower Players as well as a member of the International Club. As a day student who lived at home, she served on the college’s finance committee that helped students just like her. Wilkes excelled academically. She served as a Junior Marshal at the 1967 Commencement. At the 1968 Commencement, Wilkes was one of 179 graduates. She received a degree in biology.

FALL

1979

With strong support from local industry, High Point College started a home furnishings marketing program and became the country’s only institution of higher learning to offer students this specific course of study. Today, HPU offers one of the most well-known interior design programs in the country, and the Phillips School of Business also offers a home furnishings minor. Twice a year, HPU students from all majors, including interior design and business, get a chance to intern at the High Point Market and see firsthand why High Point is known as the Home Furnishings Capital of the World.

'80s & '90s

SPRING

1984

Named after donors Herman and Louise Smith, the Smith Library opened and replaced Wrenn as the college’s main library. The Smith Library was three times the size of Wrenn with its 50,000 square feet of space. Today, the Smith Library contains 140,000 books, 10,000 films, three computer labs, a media lab and an archive. Total cost of the Smith Library: $3 million.

APRIL

Dr. Jacob Martinson became High Point College’s sixth president. Martinson said he wanted High Point College to become “one of the finest colleges of our size in America.” In Dr. Richard B. McCaslin's book “Remembered Be Thy Blessings: High Point University The College Years, 1924-1991,” he wrote: “Under Martinson, the institution not only survived, it took charge of its future again.”

FALL

The Honors Scholar Program began as a way to draw academically gifted students to engage in project-based learning experiences that are collaborative and multidisciplinary. Says Dr. Nathan Hedman, the program’s current director: “We push them intellectually because we want them to become monster problem solvers who see the world as worthy of their wonder. ”

1990 The N.C. Department of Transportation gave the green light for High Point College to expand when it authorized the relocation of Montlieu Avenue to the south side of campus—providing the land needed to build the Hayworth Fine Arts Center. It took seven years to raise the $13 million needed to build an arts center named after HPC supporter Charles E. Hayworth Jr., and his wife, Pauline. Completed in 2002, the arts center is the creative headquarters for HPU’s Department of Theater and Dance.

OCTOBER 9

1991

After a vote by the college’s Board of Trustees, High Point College became High Point University.

18 Graduate Degree Programs “

2005 2000s

JANUARY

Nido R. Qubein came full-circle when he became the seventh president of High Point University. In 1970, he graduated from then High Point College with a human relations degree.

"The change in status to a university enhanced the opportunities to reach a broader constituency without abandoning the original mandate of the institution. High Point had indeed taken charge of its future once more.”

Dr. Richard B. McCaslin, Remembered Be Thy Blessings: High Point University, The College Years 1924-1991

FALL

1993

Two years after becoming a university, HPU began its graduate program. The first graduate degrees offered were a master’s degree in management and international management. HPU currently has 1,196 graduate students in a variety of both master’s and doctoral degree programs that range from physician assistant students, pharmacy, physical therapy and dental medicine to law.

Today, HPU offers:

Majors 74 Minors

For the next three decades, he excelled as a successful entrepreneur, business owner, best-selling author and international speaker. In 2005, members of HPU's Board of Trustees approached him with the idea of becoming the next president. After receiving enthusiastic support from the faculty, he agreed and started his new job on the first Monday in January 2005.

FEBRUARY

Inside the Hayworth Fine Arts Center, President Qubein unveiled his first fundraising effort before an audience of 600 announcing he raised $20 million in 29 days. Eight months later, in a meeting with community leaders on campus, President Qubein presented his $60 million growth plan for the university, which included a new business school building, a new track and soccer stadium, an expansion of the Slane Student Center, renovation to the women's dorm complex, a new 240-bed freshman residence hall, and a park that would include two lakes, an amphitheater and walking trails.

2006 Soon after his arrival, President Qubein launched a prestigious growth plan that completely transformed HPU’s campus and the opportunities provided to students. New academic schools and facilities opened throughout the years that followed, including the Phillips School of Business (2005), Blessing Hall (2007), the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication (2009), Wilson Commerce Hall (2008), R.G. Wanek Center (2009), Greek Village (2011), the Stout School of Education (2012), Cottrell Hall (2015) and many other academic, student life and athletic facilities. HPU also grew from just 90 to 520 acres, and from just three academic schools to 14 today. An infusion of resources into HPU’s science and graduate programs soon followed. 1985

MARCH

2016

2010s 2020s

Steve Wozniak, the cofounder of Apple, made his first visit to HPU as its Innovator in Residence and began mentoring students every semester. Wozniak’s appointment ushered in HPU’s Access to Innovators Program. Qubein saw the program as a way to help guide students toward a fulfilling career—and purposeful life—in a world growing more competitive with each passing year. Today, Qubein has brought in more than 30 global leaders to the program.

MAY

2016

Fourteen graduate students became the first to receive a doctoral degree in HPU's history. They were bestowed Doctor of Education degrees and culminated the university's 15-year journey to create its first doctoral program. The doctoral program has helped broaden the impact of the Stout School of Education.

SEPTEMBER

2017

HPU established itself as a higher education leader in health sciences with the opening of Congdon Hall, which includes the Congdon School of Health Sciences and the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy. Academic opportunities include a master's degree in physician assistant studies, and doctoral degrees in physical therapy, medical science and pharmacy. The 220,000-square-foot building was made possible through donations from HPU supporters Earl Congdon and Fred Wilson. Total cost: $120 million. Said Dr. Dan Erb, the founding dean of the Congdon School of Health Sciences, in 2017: “This is much more than a feather in the cap of HPU. This building and all programs in it represent an improvement in the quality of life in High Point, in North Carolina, in the United States and worldwide.”

&

MARCH

2022

Three families gave HPU a total of $100 million to help continue its meteoritic growth. Their support helped build the new Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law, the new Workman School of Dental Medicine, and the new John and Lorraine Charman Library. It’s all part of a $400 million academic expansion plan that also includes the new Panther Commons residence hall to accommodate an additional 500 undergraduate and graduate students, 32 new student homes in a neighborhood on campus, a fully enclosed parking deck and more.

AUGUST

2024

HPU achieved record total enrollment with more than 6,300 students, nearly quadruple the number of students in 2005. The university also welcomed the largest group of new students at 1,650 and, at the same time, opened the Workman School of Dental Medicine, the Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law and the David S. Congdon School of Entrepreneurship.

AUGUST

2024

HPU was named the #1 Best-Run College in the Nation by The Princeton Review in “The Best 390 Colleges: 2025 Edition.” HPU was also ranked among the Top 20 in the nation for #6 Best College Dorms, #9 Best Career Services, #9 Most Active Student Government, #18 Best Campus Food and #18 Most Beautiful Campus.

SEPTEMBER

2021

The Nido & Mariana Qubein Arena & Conference Center and the Jana and Ken Kahn Hotel opened its doors. The complex is the biggest building on campus at 350,000 square feet and cost $170 million. The arena can hold 5,000 fans; the conference center can accommodate 1,500 attendees; and the hotel can house 60 guests. The complex also contains Alo, one of a three fine dining restaurants at HPU and one of many Life Skills Learning Labs.

SEPTEMBER

2024

#1 #1

#1

HPU’s commitment to innovation and student success continues to be recognized with three #1 rankings by U.S. News & World Report in the 2025 “Best Colleges” edition. HPU is named #1 Best Regional College in the South for the 13th consecutive year, #1 Most Innovative for the 10th consecutive year, and #1 Best Undergraduate Teaching for the second consecutive year. HPU is also ranked in the National Top 50 Best First-Year Experiences.

Best Regional College in the South for 13 consecutive years

Most Innovative Regional College in the South for 10 consecutive years

Best Undergraduate Teaching for 2 consecutive years

To see an interactive timeline developed to share more information about HPU’s 100-year anniversary, scan the QR code.

three-story building that housed everything, from classrooms and laboratories to a dining room, library and chapel.

That building is Roberts Hall, named after the college’s first big donor, John Calvin Roberts, the businessman McCulloch convinced to help.

Today, the plaque beside Phillips Hall reads: “Reverend McCulloch labored for nearly a quarter century to make High Point College a reality.”

McCulloch died in October 1934. He was 78. Hi-Po, the college’s newspaper, had an apt description of him after his death: “A dreamer who made his dreams come true.”

Taking Charge of its Future

High Point College brought in a series of leaders that helped establish an endowment, erect more buildings, attract more students and hire more faculty. In fact, this 100-year-old university has only had seven presidents, reflecting commitment, perseverance, care and longevity.

There were those like Dr. Dennis Cooke, the third president of High Point College, who realized the

school needed a president who could raise large sums of money to thrive.

Next came Dr. Wendell Patton, an academic and a businessman. He helped the college create a 10-year plan focused on fundraising and growth. That era was referred to as the Golden Decade.

In April 1985, Dr. Jacob Martinson became High Point College’s sixth president. He arrived from North Carolina’s Brevard College, where he was president, and he began initiating reforms to help the school grow. That included transitioning the college into a university.

On Oct. 9, 1991, after a vote by the college’s Board of Trustees, High Point College became High Point University.

“The change in status to a university enhanced the opportunities to reach a broader constituency without abandoning the original mandate of the institution,” wrote Dr. Richard B. McCaslin in his book, “Remembered Be Thy Blessings: High Point University, The College Years 1924-1991.”

“High Point had indeed taken charge of its future once more.”

Along HPU’s Kester International Promenade are dozens of bronze sculptures honoring historical leaders who changed the world. Along with American icons such as Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks, George Washington Carver, Thomas Edison and more is a sculpture of John Wesley, a founder of the Methodist Church. Originally established as High Point College with support from the Methodist Church in 1924, HPU continues honoring its Methodist roots with a chapel on campus led by an ordained Methodist minister. This quote from Wesley is also found etched into the sidewalk near the chapel: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

“ I do believe when God breathed life into our nostrils, He intended for us all to do something worthwhile.”

— Nido R. Qubein, Current President of HPU for 20 Years

An Answer to a Prayer

In 2004, Dr. Dennis Carroll started to worry. At the time, he was the dean of HPU’s School of Education, and he saw his alma mater as a “small, sleepy college,” constantly struggling to find enough money to complete buildings and renovate dilapidated dorms.

Then, he met Dr. Nido R. Qubein, HPU’s seventh president. Qubein invited him to lunch and asked him two questions Carroll always will remember.

“What do we need in order to build the best academic programs in America?” Qubein asked. “What tools do faculty need to inspire and prepare our students? I want to help.”

“It was an answer to my prayers,” said Carroll, who became HPU’s first provost in 2010. “I knew this is where we needed to be.”

Qubein’s story is as quintessentially American as the Statue of Liberty.

He came from 7,000 miles away at age 17 to get an education. Like Carroll, he graduated from High Point

College, Class of 1970. And like Carroll, he believed HPU gave him a life.

Qubein got married and raised his family in High Point. He built six businesses and helped start a local bank. He became a popular leadership speaker worldwide and wrote nearly 20 books on business, leadership and life.

In 1994, he joined High Point University’s Board of Trustees. A decade later, board members approached Qubein about becoming HPU’s seventh president. After months of prayer, discussion and thought, Qubein said yes.

Today, HPU is a world-class university with 14 academic schools (up from just three in 2005), nearly 500 full-time faculty members and a student body of 6,300. HPU has invested nearly $3 billion on a campus that has grown to 520 acres with more than 100 new buildings, including state-of-the-art learning labs, classroom spaces, student centers, athletic facilities and residence halls.

Nido Qubein Publishes Leadership Book on HPU’s Transformation

“Extraordinary Transformation” is the latest book written by HPU President Nido Qubein, who shares the lessons he has learned during his two decades and counting at the helm of HPU. The book is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble’s websites, and all proceeds support scholarships for HPU students.

Throughout the book, Qubein offers innovative strategies that have sparked the university’s incredible growth in size and academic stature under his leadership. HPU has achieved unprecedented growth since Qubein began leading a total transformation of the campus after becoming president in January of 2005. His book serves as an entrepreneurial blueprint for any leader who seeks to start a new organization or grow a proven brand that could use fresh ideas.

The book is released during HPU’s Centennial Anniversary Year and President Qubein’s 20th year of leadership. To learn more about the book, scan the QR code or visit www.highpoint.edu/president

U.S. News & World Report has ranked HPU the No. 1 Regional College in the South for 13 consecutive years and the No. 1 Most Innovative Regional College in the South for 10 consecutive years. In recent years, the national publication has also recognized HPU for Best Undergraduate Teaching and Best First-Year Experiences.

Qubein attributes HPU’s success to what he calls “intentional congruence.” People came together to help HPU soar.

In July 2023, in the Senate Chamber in Washington, D.C., Qubein was honored for his commitment to higher education and his transformational leadership in economic development in High Point and the region. Like McCulloch, the university’s first benefactor, Qubein is a man of faith guided by the scripture Luke 12:48, “To whom much is given, much is required.” And what is required today, Qubein says, is to continually transform and prepare HPU for its future.

Over the next decade, HPU will continue to invest in new academic programs, facilities and scholarships as it prepares students for a highly competitive global marketplace to help them become leaders of influence and impact who will create a better community and a better world.

Ask Qubein why, and his answer sheds light into what moves him.

“I do believe when God breathed life into our nostrils,” he says, “He intended for us all to do something worthwhile.” ■

A Leader Who Gives His All

Visionary leaders are the crucial foundation to High Point University’s history. HPU President Nido Qubein was inducted by the Board of Trustees in 2005 and has exponentially transformed campus, student outcomes and academic excellence. He is also known for his presence on campus and involvement in student life. As much as he transformed HPU from an administrative standpoint, he has equally impacted the lives of students through his caring commitment to one-on-one interactions with them.

He is pictured above handing out chocolate bars at a Division I basketball game on Valentine’s Day. Since his arrival, Qubein has made intentional efforts and taken time to pass out candy to students on Halloween and Valentine’s Day as a way to connect with and spend time with them.

President Qubein regularly pauses to chat and take selfies with students, including this photo from Move-In Day.

THE TEST OF TIME

A Symbol of Impactful Leadership

The Roberts Hall clock tower is an iconic symbol that dates to the earliest days of High Point College. As the first building that opened in 1924, it stands proudly and represents the university’s continuing commitment to graduate students who serve as beacons of light in the world.

This important part of history also honors a notable leader. In January 2005, current HPU President Nido R. Qubein began his term as the seventh president. That summer, four lighted clocks measuring 8 feet, 8 inches each, were installed on all four sides of the Roberts Hall tower. The clocks were funded by donations from more than 100 employees, trustees and friends of the university, at an investment of nearly $50,000. The tower’s renovations were a retirement gift for Dr. Jacob C. Martinson Jr., High Point College’s sixth president. A plaque was mounted in the lobby of Roberts Hall to dedicate the Martinson Clock Tower in honor of Jacob Martinson and his wife, Libby.

“Jacob Martinson was a wonderful steward who guided us to the university level,” said Qubein. “Naming the clock tower in his honor is our way of saying we appreciate his efforts to support learning and the transformational journey that withstands the test of time.”

Martinson began his term in 1985. Throughout his tenure, he oversaw the 1990-1991 renovation of historic Roberts Hall and the transition of the college to become High Point University. Renovation plans centered on returning Roberts Hall’s exterior to its original appearance including the steeple and tower. Martinson urged students to commit themselves to serving others, being part of a cooperative community and remembering those who came before them.

“People have worked hard here at High Point College,” said Martinson, who passed away in 2024. “They have gone on to pave their way and make their work in a society, which they have shaped.”

Roberts Hall is the oldest building on campus. Standing 150 feet tall from grade to spire, it initially housed the entire operation of the college except for residences. Inside were offices, classrooms, laboratories, a bookstore, the library, the dining room and the kitchen. The west end of the upper floor was an auditorium: the place of daily chapel services, Sunday vespers, concerts, plays and student meetings. Use of the building continues today with administrative and faculty offices.

In support of the American effort during World War II, the tower was used as a lookout post. After the 326th College Training Detachment arrived by train, cadets were trained to spot enemy planes. Each time a bomber was sighted, a call went out to the Army air base in Raleigh, North Carolina. By June 1944, more than 750 Air Force cadets had earned college credit by completing classes taught by High Point College faculty in English, history, science, math, physical education, first aid and air regulations.

The Department of Art used the tower for classes before being moved to the second floor in the fall of 1946. That’s when the tower space became a stage and workshop for the drama department’s Tower Players, a group named after the Roberts Hall Tower.

The offices housed in Roberts Hall have evolved over the years, but this majestic building continues to stand tall as if to greet students, families and visitors arriving at HPU’s main entrance. A reflecting pond has also been added behind the building to provide a rejuvenating study and collaboration space for the campus community. ■

Dr. Jacob C. Martinson, sixth president of High Point University (left), was honored by HPU President Nido Qubein, seventh and current president (right), with the naming of the Martinson Clock Tower in 2005. Martinson passed away in 2024.

In support of the American effort during World War II, the Roberts Hall tower was used as a lookout post by Air Force cadets.

The Department of Art once used the tower for classes.

A FULFILLING

Nido Qubein is the transformational leader who propelled HPU to national distinction. Here’s where the university will grow next.

“It takes one to know one.”

When it comes to visionary leaders, that phrase applies in unexpected ways.

Walk down the hallway toward the President’s Club on the top floor of the R.G. Wanek Center, and you’ll see painted portraits of HPU presidents lining the walls. They depict seven faces that span 100 years of leadership, from the very first president to current President Nido Qubein, who the Board of Trustees appointed in 2005. Each labored to give the university a better future in the context of their own time.

As the 20th anniversary of Qubein’s presidency takes place during HPU’s centennial anniversary, that same phrase, “It takes one to know one,” is reminiscent in other ways that reveal why his 20 years have been the most transformational of all.

Qubein is quite literally a representation of every aspect and constituent group that is important to the vitality of a university.

He is an alumnus. He graduated from HPU, and so did his wife, Mariana. Together, they raised their family in the city of High Point, which HPU proudly bears in its name, for more than 40 years.

They are parents and grandparents, and they are deeply involved in supporting the city’s growth and vitality. You’ll find the Qubein Children’s Museum in downtown High Point, where revitalization is underway. Those efforts include the new Truist Point baseball stadium, where Qubein also championed efforts and secured the stadium’s naming rights.

An entrepreneur who built and operated successful businesses, Qubein arrived with wisdom and experience in sound business principles, strategic vision and the willingness to take some calculated risks. He has served on the corporate boards of several Fortune 500 companies, including Truist, the sixth-largest bank in the nation, La-Z-Boy and Savista. His business knowledge and leadership are evident through a variety of organizations.

Like a professor, he teaches a class for all freshmen and is ever-present on campus. He laughs with students in the Slane Cafeteria during breakfast and lunch hours. Watch out he is notoriously known for pretending to steal a French fry from your plate.

Even outside of his role as president, he is an avid supporter of HPU and one of its greatest philanthropic investors.

FUTURE

High Point University exited the ocean of sameness and entered a small pool of distinction throughout our transformation.’

—

HPU President, Nido R. Qubein

When it comes to being the visionary leader of a university that went from small and obscure to nationally known for breaking the mold, it takes one a graduate, a parent, a philanthropic supporter, a teacher, a community leader and a business-minded entrepreneur to successfully serve at the helm of High Point University.

Qubein was quintessentially built to grow and sustain High Point University for the long-term during a disruptive era for higher

education. Here’s where he’s leading HPU next.

A Banner Year for Academic Excellence

In HPU’s centennial year, the university has achieved its highest number of Fulbrights, celebrated two physical therapy professors who were named among the top 2% of the most cited scientists and welcomed inaugural cohorts of dental medicine and law students.

What other university achieved these goals in just one year, let alone grew from just three academic schools to 14 academic schools in recent years?

HPU’s latest academic initiatives include the David S. Congdon School of Entrepreneurship, the Workman School of Dental Medicine, the Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law, the Teresa Caine School of Nursing and, in development, the School of Optometry.

HPU President Nido Qubein is pictured teaching the First-Year Seminar on Life Skills, which he has led for nearly 20 years. He also invites a renowned group of global leaders who are his friends to impart wisdom to students during the class.

HPU proudly announces the naming of five academic schools and a new library.

We are grateful for the HPU families who contributed $230,000,000 to the University recently.

JOHN AND LORRAINE CHARMAN LIBRARY

John and Lorraine Charman (United Kingdom)

DAVID S. CONGDON SCHOOL OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

David S. Congdon (North Carolina)

KENNETH F. KAHN SCHOOL OF LAW

Kenneth F. Kahn (Florida)

HPU proudly announces the recent naming of five academic schools and a new library. We are grateful for the HPU families who contributed

WORKMAN SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE

HPU proudly announces the naming of five academic schools and a new library.

$230,000,000 to the university recently.

Dr. Rick Workman (Illinois)

JOHN and LORRAINE CHARMAN LIBRARY

John and Lorraine Charman (United Kingdom)

Teresa Caine (North Carolina)

DAVID S. CONGDON

SCHOOL OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

KENNETH F. KAHN SCHOOL OF LAW

Kenneth F. Kahn (Florida)

TERESA CAINE SCHOOL OF NURSING

DOUGLAS S. WITCHER SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES and BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

We are grateful for the HPU families who contributed $230,000,000 to the University recently.

David S. Congdon (North Carolina)

Doug Witcher (California and North Carolina)

DOUG WITCHER SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Doug Witcher (California and North Carolina)

WORKMAN SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE

Dr. Rick Workman (Illinois)

TERESA B. CAINE SCHOOL OF NURSING

JOHN AND LORRAINE CHARMAN LIBRARY

John and Lorraine Charman (United Kingdom)

Teresa Caine (North Carolina)

Choose to Be Extraordinary!®

www.highpoint.edu

www.highpoint.edu

DAVID S. CONGDON SCHOOL OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

David S. Congdon (North Carolina)

KENNETH F. KAHN SCHOOL OF LAW

Kenneth F. Kahn

Construction is underway for new dental and law school facilities next to Congdon Hall on HPU’s campus, where the Congdon School of Health Sciences (opened in 2015) and the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy (opened in 2016) are housed.

While HPU’s undergraduate enrollment has nearly quadrupled, graduate enrollment has soared from just a couple hundred to more than 1,000 students now pursuing graduate degrees in a variety of fields, including physical therapy, physician assistant studies, pharmacy, biomedical sciences, and in business administration or education with multiple focuses.

In 2024, students also began pursuing paths as dentists and

lawyers. And every student on campus will be supported by the future state-of-the-art Charman Library.

“High Point University exited the ocean of sameness and entered a small pool of distinction throughout our transformation,” Qubein said. “This is a serious academic institution. This is a university that equips students with Life Skills that lead to lifelong success. This is a university attracting students from across the nation and the world. HPU strives for excellence every day, and our future is bright.”

Of course, these recent milestones are the result of continual success, including the openings of numerous undergraduate schools and facilities since 2005.

UNIVERSITY GROWTH – AT A GLANCE

MAJOR ACADEMIC INVESTMENT

HPU grew from just three academic schools in 2005 to 14 academic schools today:

• Congdon School of Health Sciences

• David S. Congdon School of Entrepreneurship

• David R. Hayworth School of Arts and Design

• Douglas S. Witcher School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences

• Earl N. Phillips School of Business

• Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy

These include Ivy League-level science labs, a TV studio, an esports arena and game design lab, a trading room with a live stock ticker, a criminal justice mock courtroom, numerous simulated health care spaces, and dozens of other classrooms and learning spaces that ensure there’s an opportunity for students to learn on every corner.

“The average tenure of a college president is between five and six years, but Dr. Qubein is approaching 20 years,” says HPU Provost Dr. Daniel Erb. “The longevity of his leadership and his complete commitment to the position have enabled the university to achieve long-term, strategic goals. The infrastructure the university has now is sound and better for all students, faculty and staff.”

• Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law

• Nido R. Qubein School of Communication

• School of Optometry

• Stout School of Education

• Teresa Caine School of Nursing

• Wanek School of Natural Sciences

• Webb School of Engineering

• Workman School of Dental Medicine

Elevating the Campus Environment

Qubein regularly shares this quote with students from Orison Swett Marden, founder of Success Magazine:

“Your outlook upon life, estimate of yourself and estimate of your value are largely colored by your environment. Your whole career will be modified, shaped and molded by your surroundings and the character of the people with whom you come into contact every day.”

When Qubein arrived in 2005, he knew that the state of the campus reflected the state of the university. He sought to not only correct a backlog of deferred maintenance but to equip the campus with new

resources and facilities that reflected HPU’s level of excellence.

From new academic buildings and facilities with student support services to student centers with plenty of space to study, dine and connect with friends, every corner mattered. Dorms to house growing enrollment were built on a continual basis since 2005.

In fall 2023, Panther Commons joined the list as not only a new residential facility for upperclassmen and the growing number of graduate students who want to live on campus, but also a multipurpose facility with numerous dining and retail options.

To further its commitment to supporting the community, HPU partnered with several local

This spring 2024 white coat ceremony for physical therapy students is one example of several white coat ceremonies held each year for master and doctoral-level health programs.

businesses to make these retail spaces possible. Barberitos, a Tex-Mex chain in North Carolina, opened an on-campus location much to the excitement of students who frequent the restaurant in High Point. And two local entrepreneurs also now operate a hair salon and a nail salon in Panther Commons.

Shauna Greene owns Anointed Cutz nearby in the city, and she loved the chance to open a second hair salon at HPU that provides students with a way to look neat and professional on campus.

“I’m the only female-owned barbershop in High Point, and now the only salon on campus,” Greene told the local newspaper, the High Point Enterprise. “A lot of students travel by Uber to our barbershop, so it’s a great feeling being able to bring the salon to them on the campus of High Point University.”

Panther Commons is located near the recently opened Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center, making it the perfect place for students to grab a bite to eat on the way to or from a basketball game or a major concert.

The Qubein Arena is another example of elevating not only campus infrastructure but the opportunities for students, community members and HPU’s Division I basketball teams to find success on a national stage. For the first time in history, HPU hosted the Big South Tournament for the 2023-2024 season, where 20,000 visitors came to the city and the campus.

The Conference Center, a part of the mega-multipurpose complex, is also where academic conferences and major events, including the

Annual Veterans Day Celebration, which welcomes nearly 1,500 people every year, are held.

“We have shown the world we have a beautiful region and beautiful facilities that are used to hosting big events,” said Qubein. “We’re proud that they attract events and visitors

from across the nation. It speaks very highly of High Point University, the hospitality we provide and the reputation that we have.”

It’s another level of success the university could have never achieved without an infusion into campus infrastructure and facilities. ■

The $92-million construction site for the Workman School of Dental Medicine and the Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law is well underway. These images were captured in summer 2024, and the sites are expected to be finished by fall 2025.

AN INSIDE LOOK AT PANTHER COMMONS:

Panther Commons recently opened on campus as a bustling hub with recreational, dining and residential options. The 200,000-square-foot building stands five stories tall to house a total of 400 graduate and undergraduate students. The photos on these pages provide a glimpse of how this facility supports student life on campus.

Multiple spin classes per day are offered and led by an instructor in the Wheelhouse, a new state-of-the-art cycle studio.

Purple Pie (pictured), Barberitos and The Brunch Place are several new dining locations available for students in Panther Commons.

Kazoku, HPU’s new hibachi restaurant, opened in Panther Commons to provide another fine dining opportunity for students on campus, in addition to 1924 Prime and Alo. Students can make a reservation and enjoy a traditional Teppanyaki experience with their friends. Kazoku means family in Japanese, and the restaurant is designed to foster connection and fellowship over a meal.

A nail salon and a hair salon have opened on campus in new retail spaces in Panther Commons, providing opportunities for students to look their best before internship and job interviews.

The Powerhouse, a new weightlifting gym in Panther Commons, joins the lineup of many other recreational options on campus.

$20 Million TO HPU ALUMNUS GIVES

The Douglas S. Witcher School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences is named in his honor.

High Point University alumnus Doug Witcher, a prominent business owner and community leader, has contributed $20 million to support HPU.

The Board of Trustees voted in the spring to name the Douglas S. Witcher School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences in his honor.

Recognized as HPU’s 2017 Alumnus of the Year, Witcher earned an education degree from what was then High Point College in 1977. He serves on HPU’s Board of Trustees in addition to his role as founder and CEO of Smart Choice, a Triad-based insurance network with more than 10,000 independent agencies and 100 carrier partners.

through his work on our Board of Trustees and his generous gifts over the years.”

“High Point University alumni support their alma mater in such incredible ways, and Doug Witcher has always been willing to stand up and help carry on the mission of this university,” said Dr. Nido Qubein, HPU’s president, during a ceremony to honor Witcher. “He has been a phenomenal example of a graduate who has gone on to do amazing things with his life, and he continues to show his support for this university

Witcher has been a longtime HPU supporter. In 2020, he gave a $2 million gift to the university to create an endowed fund that will support ongoing maintenance of the Witcher Athletic Center, a 36,000-square-foot facility that opened in 2014. The athletic center houses HPU’s lacrosse and soccer teams, as well as state-of-the-art locker rooms and a 120-seat academic center. Witcher also donated $2 million to HPU in 2013.

Doug Witcher shares his admiration of HPU, his alma mater, during an event where the School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences is named for him.

“My most recent gift to the university is, in part, honoring Luke 12:48, ‘To whom much is given, much is required.’ In other words, this university has given me so much, and I’ve always felt I need to be a good steward to this school,” Witcher said. “I’d like again to thank Dr. Qubein and everyone else who was involved in conveying this honor to me.”

Witcher shared how he overcame dyslexia thanks to his mother, teachers, tutors and others who cared about him. The challenges he faced molded him into a “tough-minded individual,” he said, adding that his determination to succeed grew even stronger as a student on HPU’s campus.

The Witcher School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences is HPU’s third-largest academic school in terms of undergraduate enrollment with 738 students, behind only the Earl N. Phillips School of Business (1,325) and the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication (681).

The school offers 12 majors, including criminal justice, English, history, psychology and political science. Psychology is the school’s most popular major with 240 students, followed by criminal justice at 192 students. ■

“ My most recent gift to the university is, in part, honoring Luke 12:48, ‘To whom much is given, much is required.’ In other words, this university has given me so much, and I’ve always felt I need to be a good steward to this school.”

— Doug Witcher, ’77, Founder and CEO of Smart Choice

During a spring 2024 ceremony, President Nido Qubein (right) announced that alumnus Doug Witcher, a prominent business owner and community leader, contributed $20 million to support HPU.

David Congdon SCHOOL OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP NAMED

FOR

At a spring event, High Point University announced the major donor for the new School of Entrepreneurship, which is North Carolina’s first private school of entrepreneurship and one of only two schools of entrepreneurship in the state.

HPU recently received a substantial and generous eight-figure gift from David S. Congdon, executive chairman of Old Dominion Freight Line Inc., one of the nation’s leading transportation logistics companies. The new school is named the David S. Congdon School of Entrepreneurship.

“It is a mammoth undertaking to begin an academic school at a university,” said HPU President Nido Qubein. “We are grateful for David Congdon’s spirit of generosity and continued advocacy for High Point University. Like David, HPU has an entrepreneurial mindset. We set our minds on something. We thank God for showing us the way, and then we march forward. We are an actionist school, and we are grateful for the support of David and Helen Congdon.”

Qubein recognized Congdon and his family as close personal friends for more than 40 years. Congdon said the concept of entrepreneurship guided the development of Old Dominion Freight Line, which took risks through the years to grow the company. He said he was impressed by the faculty and staff who will be part of the School of Entrepreneurship, as well as the university’s leadership.

“First of all, I knew it would be done right and first class because Nido Qubein and this university know of no other way than to put their all into it,” said Congdon. “Secondly, I am so proud of High Point University and

Pictured at the podium is David Congdon, executive chairman of Old Dominion Freight Line Inc., who was honored during a special ceremony when HPU announced that the new School of Entrepreneurship would be named for him.

the way it has grown and succeeded. I am confident our investment will be used wisely, and this school will be a tremendous success.”

The Congdon family has been longtime HPU supporters. The university previously opened Congdon Hall, a 222,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility that houses two academic schools the Congdon School of Health Sciences and the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy.

Plato S. Wilson Hall will be home to the School of Entrepreneurship. Signage for the new school was unveiled inside the building during a ceremony.

With an already successful entrepreneurship major and center established at HPU, students will benefit greatly from HPU opening the School of Entrepreneurship. With its interdisciplinary and business foundational approach, this new school will equip students with the life skills and mindset to start their own businesses and create economic opportunities and social value.

The School of Entrepreneurship will offer multiple undergraduate degree options, starting with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Entrepreneurship, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Sales, a Bachelor of Arts in Event Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Management. ■

“ I am so proud of High Point University and the way it has grown and succeeded. I am confident our investment will be used wisely, and this school will be a tremendous success.”

— David S. Congdon, Executive Chairman of Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. and namesake for HPU’s School of Entrepreneurship

THE DAVID S. CONGDON SCHOOL OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP OFFERS THE FOLLOWING MAJORS:

• B.S.B.A. in Entrepreneurship

• B.S.B.A. in Sales

• B.A. Event Management

• B.A. Hospitality Management

HPU NAMES Teresa Caine School of Nursing

Teresa Caine, right, made a multi-million-dollar gift to support HPU’s School of Nursing. She and her late husband, Don, have supported HPU over the years. She is pictured with President Nido Qubein during a naming and dedication ceremony for the Teresa B. Caine School of Nursing.

Teresa Caine is a longtime supporter of High Point University, a Board of Trustee member and now the namesake of HPU’s School of Nursing. It marks the first academic school at HPU to be named after a prominent female leader.

Caine recently made a multi-million-dollar gift to support the school. She and her family have supported many growth opportunities for HPU, including the Caine Conservatory, which is also named for Teresa and Don Caine, her late husband and a graduate of HPU.

Don was a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, and graduated from what was then High Point College in 1965. The following year, he and Teresa founded C&M Products, now known as Camco Manufacturing, and served as its only two employees. When the company was sold in 2021, it employed more than 1,500 people and manufactured more than 5,600 products.

“Teresa Caine and her late husband, Don, represent the American dream,” said Dr. Nido Qubein, HPU’s president.

“They worked hard to build a thriving business, which in turn made a significant impact on the Piedmont Triad. High Point University has been blessed with continual support from the Caine family, and Teresa’s gift ensures that HPU will continue to produce high-quality nurses who are prepared to treat patients from day one.”

NURSING STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM:

• 50,000-square-foot complex with cutting-edge technology

• 16-bed skills lab

• 14 diverse simulators

• Three high-fidelity simulation suites

• Small class sizes and access to professors

• Interdisciplinary collaboration with other health-related majors on campus

The Teresa Caine School of Nursing conferred its first Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees in May 2024. HPU nursing students learn in the 50,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art complex in Parkway Commons on campus. The complex includes a 16-bed skills lab with 14 diverse simulators modeling an acute care environment, as well as three high-fidelity simulation suites adult health nursing, maternal-newborn nursing and pediatric nursing.

The Caine Conservatory supports botanical research and academic excellence at HPU. It includes tropical plants from around the world, supports botanical research for faculty and students and provides the opportunity to propagate plants for the Mariana H. Qubein Arboretum and Gardens. It features a working greenhouse, a classroom, an eatery called The Butterfly Café and a planting display space.

The 15,000-square-foot conservatory is housed next to the Wanek School of Natural Sciences along HPU’s Innovation Corridor, which represents a $500 million investment in STEM programs, faculty and facilities.

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. ■

Don and Teresa Caine

Dental School WELCOMES FIRST CLASS

The Workman School of Dental Medicine achieved numerous milestones this year.

High Point University’s Workman School of Dental Medicine has come to fruition after achieving initial accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and welcoming its first class. Meanwhile, a state-of-the-art facility is under construction on campus.

It’s the only private dental school in North Carolina, and it was made possible by an innovator in the field thanks to a $32 million gift from the Rick and Angie Workman Foundation. Dr. Rick Workman is HPU’s Dental Innovator in Residence and the founder of Heartland Dental, which supports more than 1,600 offices nationwide.

BREAKING GROUND: A POWERFUL MOMENT

The dental school held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new facility in fall 2023. A large crowd gathered inside Callicutt Auditorium to celebrate during High Point University’s annual Fall Family Weekend.

“I hope you understand the power of this moment,” Qubein said to the crowd. “For all of history, this will be the day when we remember the beginning of the Workman School of Dental Medicine. It’s huge for High Point University.”

HPU officially broke ground on a new three-story, 77,500-square-foot facility that will be home to the Workman School of Dental Medicine. It welcomed its first cohort of students in the fall of 2024.

Pictured from left to right are HPU First Lady Mariana Qubein, Angie Workman, Rick Workman and HPU President Nido Qubein at the groundbreaking ceremony for HPU’s Workman School of Dental Medicine.

Rick and Angie Workman were accompanied by their family at the groundbreaking ceremony.

“We are blessed by the generous donations from people like Dr. Rick Workman and his wife. This is what keeps our community and HPU family growing,” Qubein said. “Our growth is on merit and by design, and we appreciate the faithful courage from the entire HPU family as we expand our academic schools and campus.”

A COMMITMENT TO LIFE SKILLS

HPU’s first dental students are learning in a completely renovated facility with the latest dental education technology and haptic simulation lab until a new 77,500-square-foot building opens for the school in 2025.

During the ceremony, Dr. Workman underscored the importance of life skills that HPU teaches throughout all academic schools and programs.

“While students have to learn the sciences and they have to learn the technical skills, the learning of leadership and interpersonal communication, how to lead a team and your staff, how to interact with patients and how to be a valued member of your community is very important,” Rick Workman said. “It’s very important to the dental profession to take that and accept that responsibility within the community.”

One of the hallmarks of HPU’s approach to dental education is HPU Health LLC, a network of dental practices owned and operated by the university with locations across the state, including High Point, Greensboro and Chapel Hill. These practices are already fully operational and treating patients, with additional practices to open in the future. Each of these practices will connect dental students with real-world learning opportunities under the guidance of trusted dentists with decades of experience.

DENTAL CARE OF THE FUTURE

While the first class of dental students begin their education in entirely renovated temporary space, HPU’s new, permanent home for the dental school is being constructed on the section of campus known as Innovation Corridor. The new facility will feature a fully functional dental office, a student lounge, state-of-the-art simulation labs and seven innovative learning spaces and classrooms.

The haptic simulation lab will be the world’s largest lab using SIMtoCARE dental simulation units to help train dental students. The high-tech simulators, which are already accessible to students, can replicate the feel of a real tooth, so dental students can train safely without seeing live patients.

In addition, students will learn about the analog and digital dentistry and 3D printing workflows in the building’s new analog and digital dental production lab. A standardized patient clinical simulation lab will provide opportunities for students to interact with patients before they treat them during their clinical rotations. ■

DENTAL SCHOOL D istinction:

HPU’s Workman School of Dental Medicine is the only private dental school in the state of North Carolina.

HPU Health LLC has six dental practices in High Point, Greensboro, Chapel Hill and surrounding areas. These practices are full dental offices that treat patients. HPU students will get hands-on learning and patient interaction opportunities inside these practices.

HPU’s haptic simulation lab is the world’s largest lab using SIMtoCARE dental simulation units to help train dental students. The high-tech simulators can replicate the feel of a real tooth, so dental students can train safely without seeing live patients.

A 77,500-square-foot facility for the school is under construction on HPU’s Innovation Corridor.

Pictured from left to right are Mark Martin, dean of HPU’s Kahn School of Law; Jana Kahn; Kenneth F. Kahn, namesake for HPU’s law school; and HPU President Dr. Nido Qubein during the fall 2023 groundbreaking ceremony for HPU’s new law school facility.

HPU NAMES LAW SCHOOL FOR KENNETH F. KAHN

Standing on a stage outside Congdon Hall, with a blue sky behind him, High Point University President Nido Qubein started naming all the new academic schools that HPU has added over the past decade.

It was an extensive list that included a nursing school, a dental school, a school of pharmacy, a school of engineering and others.

“And of course, today we gather because of the law school,” Qubein said, addressing a large crowd that had assembled on a sunny afternoon in mid-September to watch as HPU broke ground on the Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law.

Qubein announced in the spring of 2022 that HPU was opening a new law school as part of a $400 million academic expansion. Since then, the law school has

grown its faculty, introduced a founding dean and welcomed its first class of students in fall 2024.

The groundbreaking on a new three-story, 77,000-square-foot facility marked a major milestone for the school. The building, set to open in fall 2025, will serve as the law school’s permanent home and provide students with a realistic-looking setting to practice their skills and knowledge as attorneys.

“High Point University has a proven track record in establishing successful graduate schools, and a law school is an important addition to HPU’s academic offerings,” Qubein said. “The Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law is making tremendous progress and reflects HPU’s focus on Premier Life Skills as part of its curriculum. Many graduates of law school go on to have high posts in government and business, become CEOs at major corporations or become entrepreneurs of great success. This aligns with HPU’s commitment to prepare students for the world as it will be.”

The new building will feature eight classrooms, a 13,000-square-foot law library with study space for students and a 120-seat courtroom that will double as a classroom. The large courtroom will have a state-ofthe-art audio and visual system and look like a real courtroom with a jury box, a deliberation room and a visiting judge’s chamber.

In addition, HPU students will be able to hold mock trials in two smaller courtrooms inside the facility.

Kahn, whose name will adorn the front of the new law school facility, attended the groundbreaking ceremony with his family, including his wife, Jana.

Kahn is a member of HPU’s Board of Trustees. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and graduated from Harvard University’s law school. He is the founder and president of LRP Media Group, a multi-million-dollar global media company that serves education and business professionals.

“I’ve been fortunate to meet many college presidents, many deans and many administrations, and I have to say this institution is most fortunate of any that I’ve visited to have a leader like Dr. Qubein,” Kahn said. “His leadership has really enabled the fantastic growth of this university, both in physical plant and enrollment but also in academic standing.”

The groundbreaking for the law school took place nearly two years after HPU held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the Jana and Ken Kahn Hotel, which is connected to the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center.

The North Carolina Court of Appeals held oral arguments on campus in spring 2024, marking the appellate court’s first HPU visit. Pictured from left is Mark Martin, founding dean of HPU’s Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law, with judges Allegra Collins, Jeffery Carpenter, April C. Wood, Chris Dillon, Donna Stroud and John Marsh Tyson.

The 30-room hotel, which includes a fine-dining restaurant and a meeting space, serves as a realworld learning lab for students studying majors such as event management, sport management and hospitality management.

The Kahn family also created the endowed Kenneth F. and Jana S. Kahn Extraordinary Staff Award to honor HPU employees who provide service to the campus community and live according to HPU’s morals and values.

“We’re very proud that the law school will carry the name of a man who demonstrated beyond reproach that in America you can go to college, you can get undergraduate and graduate degrees, you can work hard, you can build an innovative business and you can prosper along the way,” Qubein said. “And when you do, God calls upon you to share that prosperity with others.”

HPU appointed Mark Martin, former chief justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina, as the founding dean of the law school. He oversees an extensive group of top legal scholars, including state and federal judges from across the country who serve as full-time and extended faculty members.

The new faculty members include current and retired justices from the Arizona, Delaware, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas Supreme Courts. They are joined on the faculty by prominent attorneys, including a former U.S. Attorney, and appellate judges serving on the bench in North Carolina and with the U.S. Court of Appeals. ■

Innovators

Empowering THROUGH RESEARCH

In the

of the

middle

bustling Qubein Arena concourse, Marlo Hemerson (left) and Sophia Gregory (right) discussed their academic research during their senior year with event attendees at HPU’s Annual Research and Creativity Symposium, known as High-PURCS.

HPU’s Annual Research and Creativity Symposium offers undergraduates the opportunity to become scholars.

Lorenzo Botter, ’23, looked sharp. Dressed in a black suit and a gold tie, he was a college senior with every reason to feel on top of the world. With cool confidence, this physics major and computer science minor commanded a breakout room and shared the results of his yearlong artificial intelligence (AI) research. Impressed, his audience of students and faculty hung on his every word.

LORENZO BOTTER

HPU Class of 2023

B.S. Physics

Stanford Class of 2024

M.S. Aerospace Engineering

His stellar research and presentation experience helped prepare him to go on to Stanford University’s Master of Science in aerospace engineering program after graduating from HPU. But the opportunities to conduct high-level research and professionally present it are common for HPU undergraduates. Now in its 13th year, High-PURCS (High Point University Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium) is HPU’s way of welcoming all students from freshmen to seniors into the university’s culture of scholarly research.

At HPU, Botter worked with Professor of Computer Science Yong Wei one-on-one every week. The result? Together they created self-learning algorithms to fight malware viruses. They wrote a scholarly paper for publication in a prestigious computer science journal.

This is cutting-edge research in AI one of the hottest fields in science. But Botter’s work wasn’t for class it was extracurricular.

Every April, High-PURCS gives hundreds of students the opportunity to team up or individually present research presentations across nearly every academic discipline thanks to the support of dozens of faculty mentors. Their presentation fields range from biochemistry to biology and psychology to pharmacy. Their subjects run the gamut from CRISPR-Cas9 as a Genetic Tool for Studying MRSA Antibiotic Resistance to The Textiles of Italy and Italian Fashion and Understanding Tibetan Thangkas.

Botter’s research took him way out of his comfort zone. He learned code others had written and added to it. He mastered the programming language Python. He designed, implemented and tested a self-supervised neural network. He wrote his first scholarly paper. There was an added challenge. A native of Treviso, Italy, Botter gave his talk in English.

to Improve Aqueous Solubility and Biological Activity.

Her group project on wine required a poster presentation. All teams get a space in the arena’s concourse with their 4-by-6 foot laminated displays. They defend and discuss their work with all attendees during a day when the arena is crowded with curious students.

Gregory sees the benefits of both types of projects. “Group members are very valuable when establishing and attempting a new procedure on something you’ve never researched before. Plus, everyone has their own strengths. We learned how to delegate tasks, communicate and work together to edit the poster,” she says.

Her solo project spanned two academic years, including summers.

“The kind of one-on-one training Lorenzo did with me is extremely helpful for students to get a job and if they pursue graduate studies,” says Wei. “An important factor in his admission to Stanford was the strong letter of recommendation I wrote for him that emphasized his ability to solve real-world problems.”

“I would advise every student to begin their research journey as soon as they can,” says Botter who was an international student. “HPU has so many research opportunities. Teachers really are available to help you with projects to make them successful. It’s a great learning opportunity.”

Early Access Provides More Experience

Students like chemistry major Sophia Gregory, ’23, hone

their research skills by doing High-PURCS every year. For her third annual presentation, she used ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy to discover how differing concentrations of phenolics and flavonoids affect the taste and color of wines that contain alcohol or are alcohol-free.

“I worked hands-on with the US-Vis Spectrometer every single week. At a bigger university I wouldn’t have been able to touch an instrument like that,” says the Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, native. She is now working on her Ph.D. in chemistry at Notre Dame.

Gregory is a go-getter. She did two High-PURCS projects this year. The other was solo. Like Botter’s, it required an oral presentation. Its title was Synthesis and Structural Expansion of a Novel Antibiotic Adjuvant Scaffold

“I was able to really dive deep into my research. I worked independently and mentored younger students. It was almost like a graduate school experience. It was incredibly valuable.”

She wouldn’t trade her HighPURCS experiences for anything.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to get involved in research early in my college career. It’s a great opportunity to present in front of your HPU peers and professors and show off skills you’ve learned.”

‘Outside My Comfort Zone’

Biochemistry major Alec Manzer, ’24, began his undergraduate research his freshman year as a Research Rookie. This opportunity, which is offered by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Works, gives freshmen the chance to jump into the university’s culture of extracurricular research

Every spring, students at High-PURCS (High Point University Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium) present high-level research they conduct alongside faculty mentors. From left to right, Ryan Thompson, Alec Manzer, Blake Horne and Lauren Buddie presented their research project, titled Memory Manipulation, in one of many small breakout sessions.

when they first arrive on campus. It lets freshmen meet faculty in casual settings and while learning the ropes of research.

Manzer and his team targeted their research this year on memory manipulation in the science fiction films “Total Recall,” “Blade Runner” and “Inception.” All have main characters whose minds have been implanted with false thoughts.

“I wanted to do something outside my comfort zone that combined psychology, philosophy and film studies,” says Manzer, an Honors Scholar from Hammonton, New Jersey.

His group acknowledged the good news that scientists are studying how to smooth memories to aid trauma recovery.

“My team did this project as a warning,” Manzer says. “It’s obvious how this power can be abused if placed in the wrong hands.”

High-PURCS is no cakewalk. It will test any student’s limits and make weaknesses stronger.

“Working with a team can definitely be difficult, but if everyone is willing to collaborate, the experience can be very rewarding,” he says. “Making a presentation is no easy task. It’s difficult to condense information. Just like the teamwork, your hard work will be rewarded.”

After three years of High-PURCS, Manzer has made strong conclusions.

“Getting to see so many presentations across all departments and majors is a really great experience no one should pass up. My advice for anyone who hasn’t done HighPURCS is simply to do it. Do research and present your work.” ■

Research Opportunities Year-Round

HPU students work one-on-one with expert faculty year-round, including in the summer months. HPU makes it easy. Here’s a glimpse of three special summer programs students can apply to each year. The programs provide on-campus housing, faculty mentors and access to high-level labs and equipment.

Summer Research Institute (SuRI): SuRI is open to all undergraduate students in any academic field. They’ll end their summer research with an Elevator Pitch event, which involves 90-second, one-on-one conversations between students and faculty or staff members from across campus. The event allowed students to practice articulating and explaining why their research matters to people outside of their respective fields.

Summer Research Program in the Sciences (SuRPS): SuRPS is a competitive program for 24 research assistant positions with faculty in biology, chemistry or physics. These competitive awards come with free campus housing, meals and a summer stipend. Students preview the specific project opportunities available throughout the year, then indicate in the application process their top three projects they want to work on. Students work approximately 40 hours per week alongside an HPU faculty mentor.

Summer Research Fellowship (SuRF): Housed in the Congdon School of Health Sciences, SuRF pairs undergraduate researchers with faculty in the Congdon School of Health Sciences to perform summer research. This student-centered research program focuses on the development of critical research skills in students who are preparing for future graduate studies, professional positions and/or other areas of collaboration within the health sciences. Fellows receive free campus housing and a summer stipend.

From left, students Chloe Cox and Lillie Wilson smiled as Dr. Meghan Blackledge, associate professor of chemistry, pointed out antibiotic resistance findings to them and student Maggy Henkle, right. Their work was part of the 2024 Summer Research Program in the Sciences (SuRPS).

Lamp Lighted THE ORDER OF THE

HPU’s oldest honor society reflects the pursuit of strong character and academic excellence.

Every spring, highly accomplished students are inducted into The Order of the Lighted Lamp at High Point University’s Honors Day Ceremony. When that happens, a tradition that began in the 1930s reignites.

As HPU’s oldest honor society, the Order of the Lighted Lamp was founded on the pillars of scholarship, leadership, character and service. The first students were inducted in 1936. It was during those early years that the college added literary societies, fraternities, sororities and athletic teams.

The Order of the Lighted Lamp is committed to promoting and celebrating high standards among the student body. Its goal is to reward well-rounded students who have achieved great things during their college careers.

Crafting Character

Dr. Daniel Erb, provost, has overseen the Order of the Lighted Lamp since 2020. Erb greatly admires the students in the Order and their values. The Order

During the 2024 Honors Day Ceremony, a new cohort of students was inducted into the Order of Lighted Lamp.

inducts a select number of students based on scholarship, leadership, character and overall service to the university.

“I am most impressed by the high standards these students exhibit and the principles they live by,” said Erb. “These students demonstrate personal initiative, generosity, gratitude, civility, respect, honesty and compassion, all of which are consistent with the values of High Point University.

“The students in the Order of the Lighted Lamp are self-initiators,” added Erb. “They take action in thoughtful ways and are self-disciplined.”

During the selection process, current members elect students to be potential inductees, and the nominees are confirmed by faculty members.

Olivia Krumpe, a 2024 graduate from Hillard, Ohio, was inducted into the Order of the Lighted Lamp during the spring semester of her sophomore year.

“I feel honored to be a member of the Order of the Lighted Lamp,” says Krumpe. “When I was inducted, it showed me that all of the time I’ve put into my schoolwork, extracurriculars and leadership positions didn’t go unnoticed. HPU students don’t go above and beyond just because

we want a certain award. We study hard, are involved in activities and give back to the community because we want to. But when all of our accomplishments are appreciated, it feels rewarding.”

A Symbol of Scholarly Achievement

As for the name of the society, the founding members of the Order most likely took inspiration from the High Point College seal. The image depicts the lamp of knowledge, symbolizing a fundamental principle of HPU. In addition, the lamp is present at the apex of Roberts Hall, showing that HPU highly values knowledge.

The Order of the Lighted Lamp reinforces the core beliefs of HPU so much that a new plaza on campus was named for the organization this year. The Order of the Lighted Lamp Plaza is a beautiful outdoor space located between the Wanek School of Natural Sciences and Congdon Hall. The plaza’s visibility and position among prestigious academic buildings on campus reflects the Order’s importance to the university.

“Students in the Order of the Lighted Lamp consistently show they have adopted a growth mindset,” said Erb. “These students have established a foundation to prepare them for success in the world as it is going to be.” ■

Located in the heart of HPU’s Innovation Corridor is the Order of the Lighted Lamp Plaza, a vibrant green space named in honor of HPU’s oldest honor society. The plaza is surrounded by innovative facilities and features banners that celebrate the academic accomplishments of the HPU family.

‘MILLION DOLLAR SCHOLAR’

Chooses HPU

HPU freshman Madison Crowell was accepted into 231 colleges and awarded nearly $15 million in scholarships.

Madison Crowell needed an easy way to keep track of all the colleges she applied to and the scholarships she received during her senior year at Liberty County High School in Hinesville, Georgia.

She ended up creating a digital spreadsheet that she and her parents referred to as “The War Board.” The spreadsheet was colorcoded and contained the names of more than 200 colleges and universities from across the country. It also listed scholarships totaling nearly $15 million.

Crowell garnered national attention in the months leading up to her freshman year at High Point University for just how impressive her achievements were and how extensive the college application process was for her. While high school students are encouraged to apply to more than one college, Crowell, the vice president of her senior class, took it to another level.

The teenager set national records by being accepted into 231 schools and for receiving $14.7 million in scholarships. She had her choice of schools that she could have attended on a full ride, from small, private colleges to large, public universities.

ONLY HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY WOULD DO FOR THIS AMBITIOUS STUDENT AND SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR!

On May 1, 2024, Crowell announced that she planned to attend HPU during a ceremony inside her high school gymnasium. She called HPU her “dream” school, and as soon as she made her college decision official, she started shooting confetti into the air with her parents.

“Choosing to attend High Point for the next four years is something that I believe to be one of the best decisions of my life. The atmosphere that HPU had when I stepped on campus for the first time was unmatched,” Crowell said after choosing HPU in May 2024. “I felt that I was at home and could spend the next four years of my life happily getting an amazing education. I cannot wait to see what HPU has in store for me and the rest of my journey.”

Crowell is majoring in exercise science at HPU and plans to eventually earn a doctorate in physical therapy. She is also a member of HPU’s Bonner Leaders program and helps serve the city of High Point through her work with local nonprofit organizations.

Going Global with Her Story

People around the world took notice of Crowell as she received one college acceptance letter after another and the amount of money she was awarded in scholarships reached eight figures.

In addition to her parents and classmates, government officials from across Crowell’s home state of Georgia attended her college announcement ceremony at her high school. A statement from U.S. President Joe Biden congratulating her on her accomplishments and telling her that she was one of the reasons he was “so optimistic about the future” was shared with the audience.

HPU President Nido Qubein also recorded a special message for her ceremony.

“We are excited to have Madison as a member of our HPU family,” Qubein said. “She is going to do exceptional things right here at The Premier Life Skills University, where we call everybody to be extraordinary. The sky is not the limit for her, and at High Point University, we know she’ll be a leader. We know she’ll make amazing things happen. We’re here to resource her, cheer her on and celebrate her victory.”

Crowell’s decision to attend HPU received the type of media coverage that’s often reserved for when a star high school athlete chooses a school on National Signing Day. She was featured on TV news broadcasts across the country, as well as in stories for “Good Morning America” and People magazine.

She was also praised on CNN and the “CBS Mornings” show, BBC and numerous other outlets for getting accepted into a record number of schools and for receiving so many scholarships.

“The atmosphere that HPU had when I stepped on campus for the first time was unmatched. I felt that I was at home and could spend the next four years of my life happily getting an amazing education.”

— Madison Crowell, HPU Class of 2028

Not Out of Your Reach

“Getting all this recognition is very heartwarming,” Crowell said. “The immense amount of support is greatly appreciated. I’m excited to hear that my story is being shared not just here in the United States but globally as well.”

Crowell was highly active in extracurricular activities while at Liberty County High School. In addition to being the vice president of the Class of 2024, she was a varsity cheerleader, a student ambassador, the school’s lead basketball manager, a member of the National Honors Society and managing editor of the school’s yearbook.

Crowell said she started planning for college as a kid, and she went on college tours with her parents while she was in middle school. She took a tour of HPU’s campus during a Presidential Scholars Weekend.

Crowell told “Good Morning America” that she wanted to apply to as many schools as she did to show kids in Liberty County, Georgia, which has a high poverty rate, that it’s possible for them to get accepted into schools “that you think might be out of your reach.” ■

Watch:

HPU Freshman Makes Global Headlines Media outlets around the world shared Madison Crowell’s story about getting accepted into 231 colleges and being awarded $14.7 million in scholarships. After announcing she had chosen High Point University, her story was shared on major news outlets such as CNN, ABC’s “Good Morning America,” People magazine and BBC. Scan the QR code to see Crowell on numerous media outlets.

GLIMPSES OF GREATNESS

It was a record year as 10 HPU students were selected as Fulbright semifinalists and three were awarded Fulbright U.S. Student Program Scholarships for 2024-2025 to teach English around the world. Lauren Buddie, an Honors Scholar and elementary education major, will teach in Bulgaria. Olivia Gardner, a Communication Fellow who majored in Spanish and journalism, will teach in Ecuador. Anna Tornovish, an elementary education major, will teach in Spain.

A team of event management students from the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication won first place in the Professional Conference Management Association Global Student Competition. Pictured clockwise from top left, Abby Hoag, Emma Jones, Katie McAlexander, Bailey Faircloth and Hailey Rivers were awarded a scholarship to present their event concept at Convening Leaders 2024. In addition, HPU was the only school with two student teams to place among the Top 5 finalists.

Students from HPU’s Professional Selling Club placed second overall in the 16th Annual National Sales Challenge. Pictured from left to right are winning team members Graham Wesel; Kade Little; Larry Quinn, chair of the department of marketing and sales; Tyler Rumsey and Zac Morris.

Lauren Buddie

Olivia Gardner

Anna Tornovish

Two HPU students were awarded David L. Boren Scholarships for 2024-2025. Savannah Graver, ’24, an international relations major with minors in Chinese and environmental science, will study Mandarin at National Taiwan Normal University. Mac Mollins, an Honors Scholar with double majors in history and political science, will study Turkish at the University of WisconsinMadison and the University of Baku-Azerbaijan.

HPU’s Workman School of Dental Medicine and Wake Forest University School of Medicine have signed a letter of intent to begin discussions on developing dental residency programs together. Dental residency programs would provide post-doctoral training in a number of potential specialty areas.

Alexa Young, an Honors Scholar and chemistry major from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, received the SMART (Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation) Scholarship, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense.

As a SMART Scholar, Young received full tuition for her senior year, education-related funding and a $30,000 stipend.

After graduation, Young will work as a U.S. Army chemist in Picatinny, New Jersey.

For the first time, HPU was one of just 40 colleges and universities in the nation to receive the 2024 Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement. The designation highlights an institution’s commitment to community engagement and is awarded by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Alumni Caree

Life Skills (noun)

Preparing students for the world not as it is, but as it is going to be. Connecting the dots between creativity and pragmatism to move the world forward in positive ways. Removing friction points, solving problems and generating meaningful change.

Pictured above: HPU alumni who work as medical doctors or as leaders for major companies such as Bloomberg, JPMorgan Chase, CNBC and the MLB are pictured on stage during a panel where they returned to share insight on how HPU prepared them to launch stellar careers and compete alongside top talent in their industry.

r Influencers

PREMIER LIFE SKILLS

THE Secret BEHIND THE Success Rate

Cottrell Hall provides a central hub of professional development and experiential learning opportunities for students, including HPU’s nationally ranked Office of Career and Professional Development, pictured above.

How HPU students are setting a standard 14 points above the national average for career and graduate school placement rates.

When 99% of High Point University graduates are employed or continuing their education within 180 days of graduation, people start to wonder, “What’s the secret?”

But there is no secret. HPU graduates young professionals ready to provide value in an everchanging world because it is laser-focused on student success.

College should come with proof of your return on investment that’s why HPU tracks student outcomes and regularly surveys executives to ensure the university and curriculum are in tune with the marketplace.

“In the dynamic job market, it is the skills like personal introspection, critical thinking and experiential application that are vital for the sustainability of college graduates, emphasizing the essential role of motivation and a positive attitude in achieving success,” says Dr. Doug Hall, vice president for HPU’s Office of Career and Professional Development.

HPU graduates are coachable, emotionally intelligent, technologically savvy and motivated. On the following pages, meet a few examples who recently launched their careers.

Finding the Perfect Path

Mac Laborde, a 2023 graduate from Atlanta, Georgia, is using his media production degree at Warner Bros. Discovery as an NCAA digital multimedia specialist.

He entered college like most other 18-year-olds unsure of what the future held and navigating new territory. He left HPU with confidence and a job lined up months ahead of graduation.

“During my four years at HPU, I learned technical skills that will help me succeed in my career and Life Skills that prepared me for my future,” says Laborde. “HPU allowed for a seamless transition

from my undergraduate education to my professional life.”

Laborde sought mentorship and guidance from the Office of Career and Professional Development every semester at HPU. From providing resume tips to practicing for interviews, HPU’s career professionals and campus mentors are responsible for Laborde’s success.

“HPU’s inspiring environment prepared me for my future in important ways,” he explains. “I learned in hands-on, collaborative environments that resembled what I would experience in my industry. My professors were mentors who

“During my four years at HPU, I learned technical skills that will help me succeed in my career and Life Skills that prepared me for my future.”

— Mac Laborde, ’23, NCAA digital multimedia specialist at Warner Bros.

Discovery

gave me invaluable guidance and advice.”

Now, Laborde works on content viewed by sports fans worldwide and across multiple platforms. He knows that whatever endeavors he pursues, he’ll be grounded in the values and knowledge he developed as a student at HPU.

“Determination and discipline are two values from HPU I have taken with me after graduation,” says Laborde. “The most important life skill I learned at HPU is how to come back from failure. Mistakes are impossible to avoid, and the faculty at HPU taught me how to turn my setbacks into opportunities for learning and growth.”

No Unrealistic Dreams

Another Class of 2023 graduate, Haley Stone, also made her dreams a reality with HPU.

The entrepreneurship major with a minor in sales from Frederick, Maryland, landed her career with Sheetz Corporate as a digital

operations coordinator seven months before graduating.

Working for one of the largest convenience store chains on the East Coast, she’s responsible for ensuring that all consumer digital platforms are running smoothly and customer issues are resolved in a timely manner.

“HPU prepared me with all the skills I needed to land my first post-graduate job,” says Stone. “I felt confident leaving HPU and stepping into the workforce because of the people, environment, resources and leadership at HPU.”

After beginning their careers, HPU graduates look back and appreciate how HPU’s environment encouraged them to be the best they can be. Thanks to small class sizes that allow students to work closely with every professor and the academic buildings that resemble the real world, they feel empowered to work hard and achieve the extraordinary.

“HPU taught me the value of dreaming big,” Stone says. “HPU President Nido Qubein is a huge inspiration to me and is one of the best examples of someone who

made their dreams a reality. I take this quote of his with me: ‘There are no unrealistic dreams, just unrealistic timelines.’”

Tapping into TIAA

Morgan Pinckney, ’24, from Columbia, Maryland, has something in common with Stone she also followed her dreams and found her perfect career path.

As a marketing major, Pinckney combined her love for creativity with marketing and now works for TIAA in Charlotte, North Carolina. She creates and edits diverse content, assists in campaign

development and execution, and manages social media channels, including content creation and engagement.

“HPU prioritizes hands-on learning experiences like internships, research projects and community service,” Pinckney says. “These experiences helped me apply knowledge in real-life situations and deeply explore my interests.”

Pinckney was ready to take her career to the next level because HPU had given her the tools and skills she needed. She worked with the Office of Career and Professional Development to prep

“HPU taught me the value of dreaming big.”

— Haley Stone, ’23, Entrepreneurship Major and Digital Operations Coordinator for Sheetz

Megan Hovey, ’24, (right) met with Career Advisor Brenton Robinson (left) in HPU’s Office of Career and Professional Development to discuss her aspirations and prepare for the next steps in her application process. Hovey landed an internship at Wasserman, a sports marketing and talent management company, as a student. She was hired by the company full time upon graduation as an Associate Manager for Brands.

for interviews, build a strong resume and feel confident in her ability to land the job, while also finding impactful mentorship from her professors.

“Professor Raymond Johnson was instrumental in my journey at HPU,” she says. “As a marketing and sales professor, his support of my goals and passions was invaluable. He provided guidance on networking and introduced me to key individuals in my field. Thanks to his mentorship, I’ve learned not only about marketing strategies but

also about effectively presenting myself as a professional in the industry.”

Those connections and the life skills she put into practice helped Pinckney close the deal that secured her future in a difficult industry to break into.

“Overall, HPU gave me access to exceptional learning opportunities that helped me grow personally and professionally.” ■

Destination Success:

Watch the stories of successful HPU graduates in numerous career paths by scanning the QR code.

MORGAN PINCKNEY, ’24

Incredible Outcomes:

CAREERS AND INTERNSHIPS

There are too many impressive stories to include in this magazine, but the students below provide a small glimpse of the success students achieve. Visit www.highpoint.edu/outcomes to see hundreds more.

Caroline Ethen, ’25

Store Executive Intern at Target in Boise, Idaho

Major: Business Administration, minor in finance

“The Office of Career and Professional Development was a great resource for me as I went through the application process. My advisor was confident in me the whole way, which was a great motivator to also be confident in myself.”

Isaiah Tyler, ’24

Credit Risk Analyst at JPMorgan Chase in Dallas, Texas

Major: Finance, minor in economics

“Through rigorous academic challenges, I learned to analyze information, solve problems, and adapt to situations that have prepared me for the world as it will be. I encourage students to immerse themselves in the many resources HPU has to offer, from the Writing Center to the Office of Career and Professional Development. Every resource at HPU has helped me to grow as a professional and as a person.”

Megan Hovey, ’24

Associate Manager, Brands at Wasserman in Raleigh, North Carolina

Major: Sports Media, minor in social media marketing

“HPU’s emphasis on taking ownership of your success and being an advocate for yourself and your goals was crucial to my ability to gain this opportunity and do well within it.”

Dominic Mancuso, ’25

Assortment Planning Intern at Macy’s in New York City

Major: Business Administration, minor in sales and marketing

“The environment inspires you. Being surrounded by motivated individuals allows you to motivate yourself. The professors who want you to succeed are also an extremely important factor.”

SETTING THE SUCCESS STAGE FOR HPU’S TRAILBLAZERS

High Point University attracts students from across the country and the world who have the courage to blaze their own trails and the motivation to pursue big opportunities. While their stories are too numerous to include here, meet a few alumni on the following pages who made an impact on campus and are now impacting the world and their respective fields.

Page 62 – Emily Lattanzio, ’23, B.S. Computer Engineering from HPU; now pursuing M.S. in Computer Engineering

Page 66 – Briana Smalley, ’19, B.S. in Criminal Justice from HPU; J.D.; Assistant District Attorney for the Office of the Special Narcotics ProsecutorManhattan District Attorney’s Office

Page 70 – Mikaela Campbell, ’18, B.A. Sport Management; Manager of Partnership Marketing for U.S.

Page 64 – Hannah Parson, ’24, B.A. in Political Science from HPU; now enrolled in law school

– Marco Sebastian, ’18, B.A. Computer

Soccer Federation in Atlanta

Page 72 – Cameron Scott, ’17, B.A. Communication; Player Relations Coordinator for Major League Baseball (MLB)

A TRAILBLAZING ENGINEER

Emily Lattanzio has accomplished a lot of firsts.

In May 2023, she was a member of High Point University’s first class of engineering graduates and the first woman to complete the program. She was also at the top of her class.

As a freshman, she was unsure of her major when she came from Oyster Bay, New York. But she found all the right connections after she plugged into HPU’s Webb School of Engineering.

There, she met a trailblazer in her own right Dr. Claire McCullough, chair and professor of electrical and computer engineering. McCullough, a licensed professional engineer, was the first woman to receive a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Together, the inaugural cohort of engineering students and their professors pioneered something new on campus the opportunity for themselves and future engineering students to flourish.

Lattanzio did. After graduating from HPU, she is now pursuing her Master of Science in computer engineering at Clemson University.

“I have always believed that every day we must choose to be the best version of ourselves,” says Lattanzio. “Coming to HPU, with its ‘Choose to Be Extraordinary’ call to action, I knew I had found a place that held similar values.”

Lattanzio gained hands-on experience by participating in two summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) funded by the National Science Foundation. Those experiences resulted in her achieving three publications, one of which she was a first author for the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a professional association for electrical engineering, electronics engineering and related disciplines.

Unmatched Mentorship

HPU’s abundance of resources helped Lattanzio build her future.

“The Office of Career and Professional Development helped me figure out that engineering was the best path for me,” says Lattanzio. “After that, I didn’t look back.”

When it comes to professors, McCullough had a lasting impact on Lattanzio’s future.

“She pushed me to be the best student I could be,” says Lattanzio. “She has been my mentor in this difficult field, and I know she supports me in all my endeavors.”

McCullough says she would recommend Lattanzio for anything she wants to achieve.

“Being in the first graduating class of any type of engineering at HPU, the first female to graduate and at the top of the class is that not the epitome of a trailblazer?” says McCullough.

Working with the Creator of the Personal Computer

Getting to know Apple Computer Co-Founder Steve Wozniak, starting in her freshman year, offered Lattanzio another unmatched connection.

Wozniak serves as HPU’s Innovator in Residence, regularly working with students in all majors, including engineers. He’s also a member of the Webb School of Engineering’s advisory board.

“I got to learn about his passions for technology design and how his love of engineering has shaped his life,” says Lattanzio. “He is also so knowledgeable about the current limits of computer processing, and it was great discussing with him where we think we will see developments in the future.”

High-Level Facilities and Research

Lattanzio loved working in HPU’s state-of-the-art labs while on campus.

“From our circuits/electronics labs to the Maker Space, the Webb School of Engineering has so many great pieces of equipment,” she says. “From my sophomore year, I was learning how to use multimeters and oscilloscopes to analyze the circuits that I built. The labs here allowed me to have many hands-on experiences, which really helped me learn the applications of the content I was taught in class.”

In addition to presenting her research at the 13th International Green and Sustainable Computing Conference and the IEEE 19th Annual Consumer Communications & Networking Conference in 2022, Lattanzio worked alongside two classmates in a year-long capstone project to build an electronics system for a smart walker to relay an alert if a person with disabilities experiences a fall.

That’s just one example of how she has used her expertise to help others.

“My engineering classes taught me all about the field that I was interested in, and my honors classes taught me new ways to think about the world,” says Lattanzio. “These two programs really shaped my entire college experience.”

She says the life skills, values and virtues she developed at HPU helped prepare her for long-term success. ■

EMPOWERING FUTURE ENGINEERS

High Point University’s Webb School of Engineering was established to meet the growing demand in the engineering and technology sectors.

Students pursuing engineering at HPU have unique opportunities, such as learning from Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak, the founding member of HPU’s Access to Innovators program and a member of the school’s advisory board, who visits campus regularly.

Here’s a quick glimpse of the degree programs provided in the school:

Actuarial Science (B.S.)

Computer Engineering (B.S.)

Computer Science (B.A.)

Cybersecurity (B.S.)

Data Analytics and Statistics (B.S.)

Data Science (B.S.)

Electrical Engineering (B.S.)

General Engineering (B.S.)

Mathematics (B.S.)

Mathematical Economics (B.S.)

Mechanical Engineering (B.S.)

Mechatronics (B.S.)

To learn more, visit www.highpoint.edu/engineering

SGA PRESIDENT PAVES A NEW PATH

How HPU’s Student Government Association served as a vehicle for this 2024 graduate’s success.

Hannah Parson, a Florida native who majored in political science and graduated in May 2024, served as HPU’s Student Government Association president. She ran on strong principles and used the leadership skills she developed at HPU to champion students’ ideas.

“Getting involved in SGA became the most exciting and important addition to my HPU journey when I realized I could make a difference while developing crucial leadership skills and investing back in the university as it has invested in me,” says Parson. “When I won, I felt an already overwhelming sense of accomplishment.”

HPU’s inspiring environment and caring culture motivated Parson, and she saw serving as president as an opportunity to give back by setting positive examples for other students aspiring to take on leadership positions. She chose to amplify student voices and inspire others to pursue their passions.

“I owe the majority of my HPU experience to the caring culture,” says Parson. “The friendships I’ve made and the intentional and thoughtful professors I’ve had make it so easy to say HPU feels like home.”

Parson also benefited from mentorship that is part of HPU’s fabric. In particular, Dr. Mark Setzler, professor of political science, has supported Parson since freshman year.

“I owe the majority of my HPU experience to the caring culture. The friendships I’ve made and the intentional and thoughtful professors I’ve had make it so easy to say HPU feels like home.”

— Hannah Parson, ’24, B.A. Political Science, Juris Doctor Candidate

Opposite (bottom): Under the leadership of Parson (right), SGA filled 600 stockings for senior citizens in the community as part of the Salvation Army of High Point’s Stuff a Stocking Campaign.

Above: Hannah Parson was part of a group of students who met with American businessman and political leader Erskine Bowles, shown at center, when he visited HPU to learn more about its transformational growth. Pictured from left are students Grant Hines, Parson, Lizzy Eisenhardt, Bowles, Joe Maronski, Julia Velasquez and Ivana Korankyi. Left: HPU’s Student Government Association donated nearly 500 meals to Open Door Ministries, a nonprofit that provides food for people in need

“He’s a fantastic representation of the support I receive from the political science department as a whole, and he has been invested in my academic and professional success from day one,” says Parson. “I’ll always be grateful for his advice and encouragement.”

She earned numerous opportunities to learn outside the classroom, too, such as interning with Congresswoman Kathy Manning in North Carolina’s sixth district. She also served as a court summer intern at Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court in Cleveland, Ohio.

After Parson graduated in 2024, she headed to Washington University St. Louis School of Law to continue fulfilling her dreams.

“I look forward to pursuing a career in the field of law and keeping an open mind about the exact career path I will follow as I enter a new season of schooling,” says Parson. “I look forward to a future that will allow me to continue to develop a meaningful legacy and make great memories with family and friends!” ■

Watch: Hannah Parson explains to the local news why HPU’s Annual Veterans Day Celebration is so important to students.

THE PASSIONATE PROSECUTOR

Watch: Scan the QR code to see how HPU prepared

When Briana Smalley was a child, she had difficulty writing her first name in a notebook that her father gave her because she had a habit of turning the “b” the wrong way, so it looked like a “d.”

Smalley has dyslexia, causing words to sometimes appear out of order when she sees them written on a page or in an email. She still remembers the day when a group of girls teased her in elementary school because they said she didn’t know how to read.

Smalley worked with a tutor after school to overcome her dyslexia. When it came time for her to make her college decision, she wanted to go to a smaller school where she felt like she could get additional support as someone with a learning disability.

She chose High Point University, far from her hometown of West Palm Beach, Florida. It ended up being the perfect fit for her.

Smalley graduated from HPU in 2019, earning her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 3.5 years. She now works as an assistant district attorney prosecuting felony drug cases in New York City.

“I follow this dyslexia page for parents, and everybody’s always asking, ‘Well, what college should my student look at? I want them to go to a smaller college,’” Smalley

Briana Smalley to become an assistant district attorney.

“I was telling myself when I went to High Point University that I was going to be an assistant district attorney. That’s what I went there for. I wrote my college essay about this goal, and to now actually be an assistant district attorney is wild.”

—

Briana Smalley, ‘19, Assistant District Attorney in New York City

says. “I immediately tell them to look at High Point University. The academic services are incredible.”

Earning Her Dream Job

Smalley joked that she now suffers from “imposter syndrome” after reaching her childhood dream of becoming a prosecutor. She graduated from Villanova University’s Charles Widger School of Law in May of 2023, and she learned five months later that she had passed the New York Bar Exam.

Smalley is a first-generation college graduate and the first

member of her family to become an attorney. As an assistant district attorney working in the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor in Manhattan, she handles her own caseload and performs a variety of legal tasks, such as subpoenas and search warrants.

“I was telling myself when I went to High Point University that I was going to be an assistant district attorney. That’s what I went there for,” Smalley says. “I wrote my college essay about this goal, and to now actually be an assistant district attorney is wild.”

When Smalley was in high school, she was involved in a program known as Youth Court, in which she would either prosecute youth offenders who had been caught with a knife or a small amount of marijuana or serve as their defense attorney.

It gave Smalley a glimpse into the criminal justice system, and she found she enjoyed being on the prosecution side. Her mother often watched her question witnesses and later helped her study for the bar exam.

“I could not have graduated college or gone to law school or have the job that I have now if it wasn’t for my mother,” Smalley says. “Both my parents really paved a way and supported me.”

Leaving It Better Than She Found It

Smalley met her boyfriend of five years, Harrison Janson, while they were HPU students. He graduated in 2020, also with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and he has been by her side through law school, the bar exam and her career in New York.

Smalley says she still reflects on something she heard HPU President Nido Qubein say during her freshman year. He told the Class of 2016 at Convocation to leave the university better than they found it.

It reinforced her desire to become a prosecutor.

“You live in your community. You work in your community, and you only have such a short amount of time on this earth,” Smalley says. “You need to leave it better than you found it.” ■

BLOOMBERG AND THE BIG APPLE

Marco Sebastian, ’18, is one of many students who had a transformational experience at High Point University. An experiential learning opportunity called HPU in the City took Sebastian and his classmates to New York City, where he first made a connection at Bloomberg. He didn’t know it at the time, but that experience during his sophomore year at HPU would change the trajectory of his future. For the computer science student from New Jersey, there were many different paths Sebastian could have taken with his career. He knew that HPU would give him all the tools he needed to find the best fit for him.

That’s why Sebastian was interested in HPU in the City, which is led by the Office of Career and Professional Development. During fall and spring breaks, HPU in the City takes students on professional development and networking trips to New York, Washington, D.C., and other major metropolitan areas to meet alumni, parents and recruiters who love hiring HPU graduates.

Seeing Your Future

During Sebastian’s HPU in the City trip, Bloomberg was the last stop on the group’s itinerary.

Students get a sneak peek into what it’s like to work for global companies and organizations like Morgan Stanley, Ralph Lauren, ABC News and more. They tour the headquarters of these companies, network with current employees and receive an overview of hiring processes. It’s the perfect way to turn a fall or spring break into a breakthrough for their internship or job search.

“Once we arrived at Bloomberg, my jaw hit the floor,” Sebastian says.

Sebastian and the other HPU students were given a tour of the office by an HPU graduate John Herring, who was in a leadership role at the company. Sebastian learned what they look for in a prospective employee, along with the company’s mission and goals.

“Standing there in the office as a sophomore college student, I had a vision of myself in the future, and I was working at Bloomberg,” Sebastian recalls.

With the help of Herring and other connections at HPU, Sebastian was able to keep in touch with Bloomberg during his junior and senior years of college. By the March before his graduation, Sebastian had secured a position at Bloomberg as a data analyst.

Sebastian has now worked at Bloomberg for six years. He has achieved upward mobility from his first role as a global data analyst to his current role as an enterprise relationship manager for hedge funds.

Part of what helps set Sebastian apart are the life skills he developed at HPU.

“The skills I learned at HPU give me the courage to speak in front of hedge fund managers and articulate my opinion about their decisions,” Sebastian says.

Hedge fund managers look to Sebastian for advice. They trust his ability to tell them whether or not they are selecting the correct solution. HPU prepared

PAYING IT FORWARD

Sebastian to be in high-pressure situations and handle them with confidence.

Set Up for Success

Sebastian credits the resources at HPU for helping him get to where he is today and setting him up for success.

“The Office of Career and Professional Development is HPU’s one-stop shop for preparing students for life after graduation,” Sebastian says. “I recommend that every HPU student utilize this great resource.”

From resume workshopping to interview preparation, the Office of Career and Professional Development is always ready to help students reach the next step in their professional journey.

Sebastian also recommends that students reach out to alumni in their desired field and ask for an informational interview, where students have the chance to find out more about what it is like to work in a particular industry or for a specific company. He says this can help students visualize themselves in that role and see if it would be a good fit.

Marco Sebastian graduated from HPU in 2018, but he still finds time to mentor students and share what his career is like as an Enterprise Relationship Manager at Bloomberg in New York City. He visits campus to serve on alumni panels and have lunch with students (pictured below), and he also welcomes groups of students to Bloomberg to learn more about career opportunities.

HPU’s call to action, Choose to Be Extraordinary, is also a motivating factor for students like Sebastian to pursue their dreams after graduation. To him, choosing to be extraordinary means to always have a goal that you are trying to achieve and to push yourself to take risks.

“You should always be striving to reach the next mile marker that you set for yourself,” Sebastian says. “Whether that be personally or professionally, you should have both small milestones and big milestones that you are constantly working toward.” ■

Watch:

Scan the QR code to see a video of Marco Sebastian sharing the HPU experiences that prepared him for a career at Bloomberg.

SPORT MANAGEMENT GRAD GOES TO THE PROS

Mikaela Campbell’s career launched at the NBA and led to the U.S. Soccer Federation.

Scroll through the LinkedIn profile of Mikaela Campbell, ’18, and you’ll instantly recognize the biggest organizations in sports as part of her career – Under Armour, the National Basketball Association (NBA), the U.S. Soccer Federation and more.

Campbell interned with and launched her career at the biggest leaders in the sports industry thanks to doors that her HPU professors opened for her.

A track and field athlete and lifelong sports lover, Campbell always knew she wanted a career in sports. She had the ambition and the potential to land her dream job, but she needed a place that could transform her into the best applicant she could be. HPU was the answer.

In sports, natural talent is valuable, but attention to supplemental details—nutrition, cross training and sleep, for example is what makes you stand out when it’s time to compete. Working toward her career was no different for Campbell.

Reaching the Finish Line

Campbell found everything she needed to be successful. HPU professors and career advisors served as her coaches, and internships were her training. A sport management major with big plans for her future, she knew that HPU provided opportunities that weren’t available anywhere else.

“With the help of HPU’s Office of Career and Professional Development, I decided to intern at a lot of different sports organizations, including IMG

College, HPU’s athletic department, USA’s track and field team and Under Armor.”

Campbell attributes her ability to land those internships, and ultimately her ideal job, to HPU’s unmatched resources. Many resume revisions, multiple career fairs and several internships later, her dreams came true.

For someone like Campbell, beginning her post-grad career at the NBA headquarters in New York City couldn’t be a better fit. She worked at the NBA for 5 years on their Global Partnerships team. In this role, she collaborated with all the NBA’s marketing partners, such as Nike and Gatorade. She traveled all over the globe for her work, and she often hosted HPU students

Dr. Jenny Lukow (left), chair of the sport management department, was an impactful mentor for Mikaela Campbell (right) during her time as a student.

at the NBA headquarters in New York for behind-thescenes learning opportunities.

While blazing trails in her career, Sports Business Journal also named Campbell one of the 2023 Rising Leaders. After building an extremely impressive career base, Campbell landed her next big opportunity and is now the Manager for Partnership Marketing at the U.S. Soccer Federation in Atlanta, Georgia.

“I really credit it all to the unique opportunities HPU provides,” says Campbell. “We have more resources and connections available that allow students to get hands-on experience and one-on-one time with professionals in any field students may be interested in. That helped me get to where I am now.”

Professional AND Personal Growth

Campbell came to HPU with a passion for her intended career, but her academic advisor, Dr. Jenny Lukow, was an integral part of her snowballing interest in the field.

“Dr. Lukow meant the world to me,” says Campbell. “She really helped me every step of the way to understand exactly what I wanted to do in the industry and how I could get there. She also just showed her own passion and enthusiasm for this space, which made me realize that’s exactly how I wanted to feel about my own career.”

Campbell discovered that professors and academic advisors don’t just open students’ eyes to careers about which they can be passionate they actually live it themselves. In addition to helping students find their way in the world, HPU faculty model what it means to love your profession.

In addition to inspiring Campbell to be excited about her professional future, HPU faculty instilled in her a confidence she never had before attending the school.

“By the time I left HPU, I felt like I had a family in this university,” she says. “I felt very confident in my abilities, and I felt like I could take on the world. I never thought I could end up in New York City living my dream directly out of college.”

Though she graduated from HPU in 2018, Campbell will talk about HPU’s impact on her life forever. ■

Watch: Watch this episode of Destination Success featuring Mikaela Campbell as she shares her journey from HPU to the NBA and beyond:

FINDING HOME AT HPU

I was recruited to play baseball at HPU, but there were so many other reasons why I chose this university. The moment I stepped on campus for my official visit, I knew HPU was the right school for me. I immediately recognized the inspiring environment and how much HPU cares for its students. I even made friends during my official visit before I enrolled at HPU who helped me feel comfortable during my first few weeks as a freshman. I really felt at home at HPU and knew it was a place where I could succeed.

FROM HPU TO MLB

How this 2017 graduate launched his career in the major leagues

Cameron Scott, ’17, launched his career at Major League Baseball in New York City thanks to a connection made by Dr. Doug Hall, HPU’s vice president of Career and Professional Development. It’s a story of success but also one that serves as the baseline for HPU students who dream big and work hard.

A former student-athlete and broadcast journalism major from Queens, New York, Scott explains in his own words how he utilized HPU’s resources to help him launch his ideal career.

PREPARING FOR LIFELONG SUCCESS

While at HPU, I learned practical skills and gained useful experience. Every project I worked on and class I took during my four years helped prepare me for success. My professors were highly experienced in the industry, unselfishly provided insight that addressed challenges and developed meaningful solutions. The hands-on training I received in my communications classes equipped me with the necessary skills for my career. I’m grateful for HPU’s commitment to developing students in all areas of life.

A GRAND SLAM SUMMER

CAREER CONNECTIONS

I met Dr. Doug Hall, vice president of Career and Professional Development, on my first day of classes. Dr. Hall became a valuable mentor to me during my time at HPU. During our first meeting together, he outlined the different resources that the university offers to students. Dr. Hall made me feel supported, and he is part of why HPU felt like home to me. I maintained a close relationship with Dr. Hall during my time at HPU, especially during my junior year, when I was searching for a summer internship. Dr. Hall knew that I had a passion for baseball and the sports industry, so he connected me with a leader at Major League Baseball. From there, the door opened for me and my future career.

The summer before my senior year, I landed an internship with the New York Mets as a player relations intern, where I coordinated activities involving media and community relations. Every day, I had the opportunity to interact with New York Mets players, player agents and representatives. I managed the player-and-coach appearance calendar and had the chance to coach children alongside Mets players at the team’s baseball clinics. Being a student-athlete, I loved how I was able to show my love for baseball through my internship. I even got to meet professional athletes like Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks and pop stars Andy Grammer and Demi Lovato. My internship provided me with valuable insight into the sports and entertainment industry and solidified my goals for the future.

YOU’LL ALWAYS FIND YOUR WAY BACK HOME

HPU will always be a part of who I am because it helped me get to where I am now. That’s why I give back by frequently returning to campus to mentor current students and connecting with them in New York. I enjoy having lunch with HPU students and speaking on various career panels. If I can help a student clarify their goals or put them in contact with someone who can guide them in their professional journey, I know I have made a difference in their life and future career. I strive to not only talk to students about the industry I work in, but also to become a new connection for them.

FINAL WORDS OF WISDOM:

HPU’s mantra of “Choose to Be Extraordinary” to me means showing up for yourself and being your own biggest supporter. Take care of yourself and have a passion for knowledge and learning new things.

FROM CAMPUS TO CAREER

I graduated from HPU in 2017 with a degree in broadcast journalism. After graduating, I began working for Major League Baseball. Today, I am the senior coordinator of baseball development at the MLB headquarters in New York City, where I identify top minority amateur athletes to attend MLB youth initiatives.

TOP 30 IN THE NATION

In 2023, I was incredibly honored to be selected for Sports Business Journal’s 30 Under 30 New Voices. I am proud to be an HPU alumnus and grateful for how the university prepared me for accolades such as this.

Watch: Scan the QR code to hear directly from Cameron Scott about how HPU changed his life and helped launch his career.

The Class of 2024 experienced many milestones throughout their academic careers, including the expanded Commencement Ceremonies HPU held in their honor.

HPU conferred 1,700 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees during the 2023-2024 academic year, which is the largest number of degrees conferred in any single academic year in HPU’s history. The university also held its first-ever Graduate Commencement Ceremony for master’s and doctoral degree recipients.

For many undergraduate candidates, it was their first-ever graduation after finishing high school in 2020 at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. The university provided two separate ceremonies for these students inside the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center, ensuring that every graduate’s name could be called and photo taken with HPU President Nido Qubein as they walked across stage – a time-honored tradition.

‘UNDERCOVER BILLIONAIRE’ STAR ADVISES HPU GRADUATES TO EMBRACE LIFE’S CHALLENGES

Bachelor’s degree candidates learned from commencement speaker Glenn Stearns, an internationally known businessman and star of Discovery Channel’s “Undercover Billionaire” reality show on May 4, 2024. He described the Class of 2024 as one of resilience.

Qubein shared a similar message while describing some of the challenges the class has faced. He noted most of the Class of 2024 graduates were born in 2001, when the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks devastated the nation. As they were growing up, they experienced the Great Recession of 2007-09. The start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 disrupted their high school graduation ceremonies so this was the first Commencement for many of them.

“This class chose to be extraordinary in spite of COVID, in spite of the rain, in spite of any difficulty that came their way,” said Qubein. “They stood tall and said, ‘We should be counted.’ All things are possible. There is no such thing as unrealistic dreams, only unrealistic timelines.”

Stearns, the founder and CEO of mortgage banker Kind Lending and host of the “Grit Happens” podcast, shared during his speech that he has overcome cancer, a dysfunctional childhood, financial collapse during the Recession and more during his life. Nonetheless, he told graduates to embrace the highs and lows that life offers and grow from both.

“My theme, I guess you can call it, is more on adaptation,” said Stearns. “You’ve been very good at that so far. You’ve learned a lot about that, and I guess I’ll try to convince you that living in the middle, being comfortable, is not such a great place to be, being ordinary. We all know we want to be extraordinary, right? Staying in the middle is not somewhere that you’re ever going to be able to grow.”

“ This class chose to be extraordinary in spite of COVID, in spite of the rain, in spite of any difficulty that came their way.”

—

HPU President Nido Qubein to the Class of 2024 and their families

Left: A Doctor of Business Administration was presented to John Charman (center), the retired CEO of Sompo Holdings who directed the integration of the overseas insurance business into a global enterprise. Charman and his wife Lorraine made a $30 million transformational gift to help fund HPU’s new $80 million library, which is expected to be completed in 2025-2026. Charman is pictured with HPU President Nido Qubein on the left and HPU Provost Dr. Daniel Erb on the right.

FIRST-EVER GRADUATE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

HPU held its first-ever Graduate Commencement Ceremony for master’s and doctoral students on May 2, 2024, in the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center. The milestone reflects the tremendous growth in master’s and doctoral degree programs that HPU has achieved in recent years in a variety of fields, such as physician assistant studies, physical therapy, pharmacy and many others.

Nearly 400 graduate students were recognized at the Graduate Commencement Ceremony with speaker Dr. Vincent Price, the president of Duke University.

“As you leave High Point University today with your advanced degree or professional training, you’re no

Glenn Stearns, internationally known businessman, star of Discovery Channel’s “Undercover Billionaire” reality show, and HPU’s 2024 Undergraduate Commencement Speaker

Dr. Vincent Price, the president of Duke University and HPU’s 2024 Graduate Commencement Speaker

doubt ready to make a positive difference in the world,” said Price. “You will walk out into a world of incredible change, a world in flux. My message to you today is this: Yes, you are entering a world of rapid and chaotic change. It may be turbulent and disorienting, but it need not be feared. Change can be powerfully positive rather than negative should you choose to understand it and influence it. With your advanced education and professional acumen, you will lead the way to a better place.”

HPU’s physical therapy doctoral degree program is ranked No. 74 nationally in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Graduate Schools rankings. Its physician assistant master’s degree program is ranked No. 65 among the nation’s Best Physician Assistant Programs. ■

Words of Wisdom for the Class of 2024:

Class of 2024 bachelor’s degree candidates were addressed by Glenn Stearns, an internationally known businessman and star of Discovery Channel’s “Undercover Billionaire” reality show. Stearns described the Class of 2024 as one of resilience and offered three pieces of wisdom:

1. Don’t be afraid to get lost. Embrace being uncomfortable.

2. Embrace life’s ups and downs.

3. Be authentic.

Master’s and doctoral degree candidates learned from Dr. Vincent Price, the president of Duke University. Price noted both HPU and Duke are celebrating centennial anniversaries in 2024. He encouraged graduates to know they are well-equipped to face challenges and serve as leaders. He advised them of the following four H’s for guidance in their careers:

1. Humanity: Recognizing individual diversity and extending grace.

2. Humility: Accepting all people know less than they admit.

3. Honesty: Turning toward facts rather than away when they prove inconvenient.

4. Hope: Believing in the ability to change and improve circumstances to make the world better in the same way as the founders of HPU and Duke.

To see highlights from HPU Commencement Ceremonies, scan the QR code or visit www.highpoint.edu/commencement.

THROUGH SALES MAKING A CONNECTION

When Molly Phalen walked into her academic advisor’s office, she didn’t expect that her life would be forever changed.

Molly was a senior majoring in strategic communication, and her advisor wanted to introduce her to another student to discuss a course she needed to take before graduating.

That student was Nick O’Brien. He was also a strategic communication major, but the two had never had a class together or previously met.

Both students were members of the Class of 2015 and had a similar trajectory, but they didn’t have mutual friends or classes, and neither had explored sales as a potential career path.

That is until their advisor saw they each had the personality and go-getter attitude to suit it.

Pivoting to the Perfect Fit

Molly intended to enter the public relations field. After a senior year internship, she realized this was not the route she wanted after graduation. Her advisor suggested she take a sales course taught by Larry Quinn, chair of the Department of Sales and Marketing.

“It was Professor Quinn who helped me realize that a career in sales was a strong fit,” says Molly. “He instilled confidence and excitement in me and changed the trajectory of what I wanted to do after graduation.”

Molly launched her career with Boston Scientific, one of the nation’s most well-known medical equipment manufacturing companies. She’s remained with the company ever since and has climbed the ranks to senior territory manager.

She frequently returns to campus to mentor students, and she was named one of the 10 Under 10 Young Alumni Award Recipients during the 2023 Homecoming weekend.

Nick faced a similar situation. It wasn’t until his advisor led him to work with Quinn that he saw a career in sales was something of interest.

“I took the introduction to sales class, became the vice president of the sales club and competed in two sales competitions,” Nick explains.

That opportunity is what led to Nick meeting multiple employees of companies, and he secured an interview with Gartner, where he will soon celebrate his ninth year this summer as a senior account executive.

“Without the guidance of my academic advisor to connect with Professor Quinn and all the coaching and mentoring that he provided me throughout my senior year, I am confident that I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Nick says.

Lifelong HPU Connections

After their advisor introduced them, they started out as friends and remained so for the next three years until it turned into a deeper connection.

They got engaged in 2021 and were married on May 28, 2023, in Woodstock, Vermont. Their wedding featured many fellow HPU graduates.

“Our time knowing one another at High Point was brief, but that one simple introduction from our academic advisor changed the course of our lives, and we are forever grateful,” says Molly. ■

“ Without the guidance of my academic advisor to connect with Professor Quinn and all the coaching and mentoring that he provided me throughout my senior year, I am confident that I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

— Nick O’Brien, Class of 2015 and Senior Account Executive at Gartner

Molly Phalen O’Brien and Nick O’Brien, Class of 2015, met during their time at HPU. Today, they lead successful lives and careers in Dallas, Texas.

EXPERIENTIAL

LEARNING

(noun)

Real-world experiences and opportunities going far beyond the classroom where lessons in higher learning become lessons in higher living. Internships, global education, undergraduate research, employer connections, meaningful mentorship from faculty and much more.

Garrett Escala (left), a sport media major, and Michael Guerriere (right), a broadcast journalism major, hosted a live pre-game show before ESPNU aired an HPU men’s basketball game. Fellow students and professors operated cameras and sound, making the entire production a hands-on learning experience for communication majors. It’s one example of how every moment at HPU is an experiential learning opportunity.

DYNAMIC DESIGN Careers

On a campus like High Point University’s, where everything is intentionally designed and facilities are recognized as some of the best in the nation, it’s no surprise that HPU has a celebrated history of academic success in a variety of design programs.

From interior design and visual merchandising to graphic design and game design, HPU is a creative haven for students who love to build, create and share their work with the world. Plus, they graduate with the advantage of HPU’s focus on Life Skills, which also helps them successfully navigate the workplace.

Students launch creative career paths after graduation thanks to prestigious design opportunities on and off campus. Here’s a glimpse.

Interior Design Alum Builds His Business

William Lyon, a 2013 HPU graduate who is now the principal interior designer of his own firm, William Lyon Designs in Norwalk, Connecticut, visited campus to speak with a class of design students during the spring 2023 High Point Market. He described how working as an intern in the Hickory White showroom during his time as an HPU student led to him becoming a senior designer after graduation and later his career as a sole proprietor in 2019.

The international furniture market, which is held in the city of High Point twice a year, provided unique opportunities for Lyon to connect with globally renowned designers like Lillian August. August is considered to be one of the top leaders of the interior design trade.

“I had a lot of job opportunities through the furniture market,” says Lyon. “I really gained all the

knowledge I could working with Lillian August and her company’s clientele, making a network for myself with other designers. That’s how it all began.”

Lyon also received job opportunities in Texas and Istanbul, Turkey, via the furniture market. He ultimately chose the opportunity with August when she told him she was opening a new showroom in Greenwich, Connecticut.

“I started as an associate manager of the showroom, then I began designing for their clientele,” says Lyon. “In six years, I had done a little bit of everything for them: furniture design, interior design, team management and project management. Taking that knowledge, forming an LLC and becoming my own boss has been the best decision I’ve ever made.

“High Point University was monumental,” Lyon adds. “It connected a lot of dots for me. Any time a professor or someone offers you an opportunity, try it and don’t be afraid to fail. Throw yourself out there. Trust your intuition.”

Going for Game Design

Alexandra “Alex” Vaughn, ’19, is a designer at Insomniac Games and was appointed as the community lead for women at PlayStation in spring 2023.

When she came to HPU from Reading, Pennsylvania, Vaughn planned to major in psychology and follow a pre-med path. But her plans changed soon after arriving on campus.

William Lyon, ‘13, owns William Lyon Designs in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Students get furniture and design industry experience twice a year at the International High Point Market trade show. From left at the Hooker Furnishings showroom are HPU students Hailey Morris, Tierra Dukes, Meghan West and Anna Sanders.

A pottery studio on campus provides students the opportunity to learn and create.

“I realized that math and science are not for me,” Vaughn says. “I was unsure what I wanted to do, but I had a lot of friends in the game design major. I’ve been playing games all my life and thought that the courses sounded fun. I switched my major, and I fell in love with it.”

While pursuing her degree in game and interactive media design with a minor in psychology, Vaughn found the right fit. She also found support that helped her prepare for professional life beyond college.

“HPU provided me with leadership opportunities and helped me build relationships with people,” says Vaughn.

Vaughn acknowledges the value of technical skills, but the studios are also looking for employees who are friendly and easy to work with.

“Because game design is such a heavily collaborative profession, you really need to have a solid foundation of communication skills across all disciplines. Talking to an artist is completely different from talking to an engineer.”

game design major is ranked in the nation’s Top 50 by Princeton Review, and the esports team is the largest club sport on campus. Both the major and the club benefit from a state-of-the-art game design lab and esports arena.

When appointed as the community lead for women at PlayStation, Vaughn had the leadership skills to be comfortable in the role.

“We are a group of women across PlayStation studios that focuses on professional development, driving positive culture change and creating a thriving community for women in the workplace,” says Vaughn.

Although the game design field remains male-dominated, Vaughn feels fortunate that Insomniac devotes resources and effort into hiring people with diverse backgrounds.

“All of my coworkers, regardless of their backgrounds, are genuinely some of the nicest people I have met and worked with,” says Vaughn. “Insomniac places a big emphasis on cultivating a positive work environment, which has created a great experience for me.”

A Career in Motion

Aidan Dietrick, a senior from Jupiter, Florida, who is pursuing a BFA in graphic design, was a

motion graphics intern with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins during the spring semester of her junior year.

“I helped make all the animations on the screens around the PPG Paints Arena,” says Dietrick. “I animated player names, logos and various crowd prompts. I loved every second of the work I was doing.”

Dietrick also created graphic designs for the HPU Club Rowing team’s trailer and launch boat.

HPU’s

Aidan Dietrick, ‘25

Alexa Vaughn, ‘19, Designer at Insomniac Games

“That was an incredible experience with a lot of learning opportunities,” she says. “As one of the captains on the rowing team, it makes me proud to see my work representing HPU at our regattas.”

In the summer of 2022, Dietrick was an internal communications design intern with CSC Global, a registered agent that helps form corporations and protect global brands. As a senior, she worked as a digital content creator intern for the HPU men’s soccer team.

“As a designer, there is so much I have the ability to pursue,” says Dietrick. “My education at HPU has allowed me to explore so many areas of design like motion graphics, web design, illustration work and more. I am lucky to be in a program that gives me the opportunity to try everything and have a competitive advantage over students with design-related majors from other colleges.”

Banking on Interior Design

Azriel Crank, a Class of 2024 interior design major, started her career as a Design Project Manager for CBI Workplace Solutions in Charlotte, North Carolina. She provides furniture selections that aid in representing a company’s brand and office culture. Azriel’s main client is Bank of America, and she provides furniture for their executive offices on the East Coast.

“The design program and its professors prepared me by giving me a realistic workload and teaching me the skills to manage myself and work alongside others,” said Crank. “The interior design program is intense. It demands its students to work overtime and manage their time properly to give the professor quality work that qualifies for the national ASID program. This means turning in work that can be used in the workplace, shows creativity and meets all codes within the nation.”

During her time at HPU, she gained experience by working in Windy O’Connor Art & Home’s warehouse to fulfill custom pillow and art orders, and in the Charlotte-based company’s showrooms at the High Point Market and the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market.

“HPU was an amazing experience every year because of the skills I learned and the people I networked with,” said Crank. “I grew my ability to effectively communicate design aspects to clients for their homes. I try my best and translate their ideas into a cohesive design, while also being practical. It was also a good experience because residential designers always stopped by Windy’s booth to shop for clients. I loved hearing designers say that this profession benefited them and is completely worth it because it helped me be confident in my career choice.” ■

Azriel Crank, ‘24

Jade Harloff (left), a senior interior design major from Apex, North Carolina, discusses fabric designs in the Norwalk Furniture showroom at the High Point Market.

EXPERIENCING Edin burgh

By Alyssa Pittari, Class of 2024 English and Marketing Major Marketing Specialist at Apogee Consulting Group

The moment I laid eyes on Scotland’s Edinburgh Castle, I knew I was embarking on a life-changing adventure. I stood frozen on the sidewalk, staring up at the famous castle on the hill in awe. I couldn’t believe that people living in Edinburgh walked past this sight every day and that this beautiful view was normal for them.

During this trip, Edinburgh became my home, but I never grew tired of seeing the castle daily.

AWESTRUCK ARRIVAL

I always thought I would be too nervous to study abroad. I had never left the country before, and the thought of being away for four weeks was scary. But Scotland had always fascinated me.

As an English major, I had read many works by Scottish authors, and I was interested in the country’s breathtaking landscapes and rich history. After speaking with Dr. Matthew Carlson, associate professor of English and the lead professor on the Literary Scotland Maymester, I knew this trip was perfect for me.

When I arrived in Scotland, I felt a sense of disbelief that I was there. I was fulfilling my dream of studying literature in a country that I had always wanted to visit. My heart swelled with excitement as I anticipated diving into the realm of Scottish literature, surrounded by the very landscapes that inspired countless masterpieces.

Throughout the next four weeks, I attended class taught by Carlson with my fellow HPU students. The course was an in-depth journey through the works of Scottish authors like Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and J.K. Rowling.

The lectures not only enriched my understanding of Scottish culture and history, but they improved my analytical and critical thinking skills. Each class discussion allowed me to view other students’ perspectives and understand the nuances of each text.

Every day, the group set out on adventures, castle tours, museums and hikes. We traveled to Alloway, Abbotsford and Dumfries to visit the birthplaces of the Scottish authors we learned about.

LITERARY SCOTLAND

Tracing each author’s footsteps in the places where they grew up and walking the cobbled streets where they once walked brought a sense of literary history to life. It felt surreal to see the places I had read about. I felt deeply connected to each author and gained a greater appreciation for their literature.

My month abroad culminated in a trip to the Scottish Highlands, where I walked the Culloden Battlefield,

Nasia Ballas, left, and Alyssa Pittari, right, hiked to the top of Arthur’s Seat while studying abroad in Scotland at the end of their junior year.

Drs. Bryan Vescio, chair and professor of English (back row, third from left), and Matthew Carlson, associate professor of English (back row, third from right), led the Literary Scotland Maymester. Here they are pictured with students at Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott, located in the heart of the Scottish Borders.

cruised around the Loch Ness and hiked the Old Man of Storr to view the Isle of Skye.

The countryside offered the perfect backdrop for understanding the deep-rooted connection between each author’s stories and the history of the Scottish Highlands that inspired them.

IMPACT ON IDENTITY

One of the most rewarding aspects of my time in Scotland was the opportunity to fully immerse myself in the culture. I had the chance to savor traditional Scottish cuisine and chat with locals about their favorite literary works and their love for their country. Engaging with new people enhanced my global perspective and communication skills.

Living in a different country showed me that I am adaptable and can deal with complex challenges. Being away from the comfort of my hometown or the familiarity of HPU’s campus fostered a sense of self-reliance and independence.

While I was abroad, I created a strong student-mentor relationship with the professors I traveled with Dr. Carlson and Dr. Bryan Vescio, chair and professor of English. They got to know me as a student and an individual.

Scotland has become more than just a place of study; it has become a part of my soul, like a chapter in my book of life. My journey was not just about expanding my knowledge it transformed who I am as a person.

I am now more willing to take risks and step outside of my comfort zone. The world is big and can be scary, but it is meant to be explored and appreciated. Humans are encouraged to embrace adventure, and I can’t wait for my next one.

I built relationships with others while abroad, but this experience also helped me discover myself. It showed me that I am prepared to face challenges and solve problems on my own. ■

WHERE HPU TAKES YOU:

60 Study Abroad Programs are available to HPU students.

23 Global Experience opportunities include four-week international adventures that are the end result of a spring semester class related to the destination. In 2023, 23 different classes explored 11 countries, including Australia, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In short-term Global Experience programs, HPU students travel with their professors and classmates to learn about different countries through real-world experiences.

The Go Global Grant for new students provides up to $5,000 in tuition for those who join the Global Experience Maymester program.

Gardens that Grow INTO Learning Labs

Mariana Qubein saw the possibilities in 2006.

She planted a rose garden in front of the Smith Library to beautify the grounds of High Point University and help her husband, Nido Qubein, the university’s new president, invigorate the campus.

From there, her idea blossomed. HPU now has 30 gardens, nine plant collections, and a 15,000-square-foot conservatory that brings inside scores of plants from all over the world.

The school’s beauty hasn’t gone unnoticed. For the past 15 years, HPU has earned the Tree Campus Higher Education Award from the Arbor Day Foundation. And with 128 magnolia trees, its collection represents one of the largest on any college campus in North Carolina.

It’s an ambitious endeavor, and it sprang from Qubein’s passion for gardening and her link to HPU. In 1977, she graduated from then-High Point College with a biology degree.

But her endeavor really took off when she spotted that rectangular patch of grass by the eagle statue in front of the library. She then began to plan and dream.

“Its success empowered me to do more,” Qubein says.

In 2009, because of her hard work and countless volunteer hours, HPU’s Board of Trustees named the arboretum and botanical

Mariana Qubein, HPU’s First Lady, has led the establishment and continual growth of HPU’ s botanical gardens and arboretum, which are named in her honor.

gardens after Qubein. But the Mariana H. Qubein Arboretum and Botanical Gardens have become more than just beautiful flowers and stout oaks whose leaves blush a rainbow of burnished colors every fall. They provide work-study locations, outdoor classrooms, recruiting tools and mood boosters where residents volunteer and garden enthusiasts from as far away as Liberia come to visit.

In many ways, they also serve as a mentor and a coach.

Justin Ross and Gabrielle Valkner know that.

A Place of Learning

Ross studies leaves. Valkner studies insects. Ross is a biology major and a sophomore from Duluth, Georgia. He’s helping Dr.

In a botany class led by Dr. Nicole Hughes, associate professor of biology, senior Micayla Campbell examines samples collected from gardens on campus.

Nicole Hughes, an associate professor of biology, research how climate change affects North Carolina’s fall foliage.

Hughes is one of the reasons Ross came to HPU. He knew he could begin working with her as a freshman and gain the experience he needed to become what he’s wanted to be for years a plant pathologist.

Meanwhile, his work-study job in the Caine Conservatory puts him side by side with another mentor, Dr. Jason Lattier, the conservatory’s director. He also will study up-close unique trees and plants, gaining the kind of experience that can’t be found in a textbook.

“That is so invaluable,” Ross says. “Employees value knowledge. But they also value experience, and this gives me a massive head start.”

Valkner is a sophomore, a Presidential Scholar from Wayne, Illinois, majoring in strategic communication with a minor in environmental science. She’s helping Dr. Daniel Greene, an assistant professor of biology,

“ Every rose bush we planted in the rose garden started out as three sticks. Our students are like those three sticks. They come to us ready to be transformed, we supply them with knowledge, and we watch them grow.”

— HPU First Lady Mariana Qubein

research insects and their impact on soil, plants and the environment.

Together, they’ve walked every inch of campus. They stop, plant a sign, dig a hole for an 8-ounce plastic cup and fill it with soapy tap water to trap bugs. Days later, Greene and Valkner return to document their discoveries.

Their research helps HPU; it tracks plant- and weedeating pests so that the university can avoid overusing fertilizers and pesticides.

Their research also helps Valkner. After graduation, she plans to spend two years in the Peace Corps and later pursue a career in environmental sustainability to help the Earth and those around her.

Valkner says her work with Greene has fueled her passion.

“It feels like I’m doing the right thing in the right place, with a greater sense of purpose,” Valkner says. “This year is the greatest of my entire educational experience.”

Paige Van Vooren (left) and Justin Ross are a few of the many students who utilize HPU’s gardens in classroom and lab work.

A Place of Comfort

Melissa Marion is HPU’s senior director for human resources. For nearly a decade, she directed HPU’s employee wellness program, and she knows how nature can help heal the body and the mind.

In April 2017 at HPU’s annual Arbor Day Celebration, she talked about that.

“I believe we all can improve our mental and physical well-being,” she told the audience at the Cottrell Amphitheater. “And we can approach life in a more fulfilling, balanced, holistic manner. All we have to do is stop, sit and take a deep breath. Just look at what you can find.”

Sophia Pipta, a sophomore from Rockville, Maryland, understands.

Her campus life is hectic. She’s a double major in international business and international relations, and she races around campus from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. A few hours a week, she works in the gardens. She needs it.

“It reminds me of yoga,” she says. “It reminds me to take a breath and slow down.”

Darius Cummings knows that feeling. He’s a senior and Presidential Scholar from Hamden, Connecticut. Back home, he discovered that same sense of calm by fixing fences and cleaning up trails as an apprentice at the Eli Whitney Museum.

When Cummings toured HPU, he teared up. The beauty of the place, he says, spoke to him. Like Pipta, he works in the gardens a few days a week, and he sees the pragmatic side of a beautiful campus.

“My mom works at Yale, so I know about the Ivy League culture,” says Cummings, who’s majoring in sociology, anthropology and philosophy.

“It has a reputation. But here, I’m part of the process that’s making a reputation. I’m part of something influential.”

That’s exactly what Qubein hoped would happen.

“Every rose bush we planted in the rose garden started out as three sticks,” she says. “Our students are like those three sticks. They come to us ready to be transformed, we supply them with knowledge, and we watch them grow.”

Junior Gabrielle Valkner works in the gardens as part of a class led by Dr. Daniel Greene, assistant professor of biology.

A Place of Creativity

Back in 2006, Matt Mahoney helped Qubein plant her rose garden in front of the Smith Library – but only after discovering what killed everything he planted there.

Decades ago, during construction of either Roberts Hall or McEwen Residence Hall, tons of soil were contaminated by buried construction debris and tanks of kerosene and fuel oil. Mahoney replaced it with a mix of topsoil and nutrient-rich red clay deposited by at least six dump trucks.

More than 100 shrubs were planted, roses bloomed and Qubein’s experiment evolved into what it is today.

“It’s a night-and-day difference since we started this thing,” Mahoney, HPU’s director of the grounds, says about the campus transformation. “We’ve been given a gift of opportunity to create this arboretum and botanical gardens and many other things.”

Mahoney has help from a talented team of five: gardens curator Emma Martone; gardens coordinator Rachel Diaz; and horticulturalists Jacob Gilbert, Emily Merritt and Faith Stutts.

Nature has shaped each member of the gardens team, and they all have stories of how it molded them growing up. So, they come to their job with a passion for nature and an intention to educate and inspire.

Take the Markham Family Medicinal Garden behind Congdon Hall. In between the hedges that resemble a DNA helix, the team has designed a garden that showcases plants that have healed the body for decades, even thousands of years.

Or climb up six steps of blue slate and into the expanded Patrick and Ryan Scarborough Butterfly Garden behind Wilson School of Commerce. And listen.

Water bubbles up from a boulder and cascades under a small bridge and down a series of rocks into a pool with a fountain and a statue of a girl swinging atop 24 books. Around the fountain are five Carolina Hornbeam trees, 12 butterfly statues and more than 1,000 native perennials. The only sound is the shhhh-whoosh of water.

It feels like a quiet clearing in the woods. That’s what Martone wanted when she teamed up with local architects to design the garden.

“The gardens help our students understand how they fit in the whole world,” Martone says. “When they wonder ‘Why am I on this planet?’ they understand that

they are members of this marvelously complex natural world that sustains our every need.”

Qubein believes in that connection. She sees nature as a gift from God, a gift to be appreciated and protected. It’s a lesson she teaches her nine grandchildren. It’s also a lesson HPU teaches its students.

“My husband tells families, ‘We plant seeds of greatness in the hearts, minds and souls of our students,’ and to watch our students blossom, it’s wonderful to witness,” she says. “They mature so much, they go on to do extraordinary things, and that makes us so proud. They’re our kids, too.” ■

HPU Gardens at a

GLANCE

10K+ tulips, daffodils, and alliums on display each year.

15K+ annuals plants create floral displays year-round.

Vegetable and herb seedlings grown throughout campus to sustain community gardens.

Community volunteers and student workers maintain

30 gardens full of distinctive plants like Whale’s Tongue Agave.

ELEVATING GAME DAY EXPERIENCES THE QUBEIN ARENA:

HPU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams had the perfect backdrop to clinch regular season championships this year – the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center.

From fraternity and sorority tailgates to free tickets for community members and the first-ever opportunity to host the Big South Championship Tournament, fans flooded basketball games like never before. The roar of the crowd was often deafening as purplepainted fans cheered the teams on to success. Entertaining halftime shows featuring international performers kept spectators engaged even when the players were off the court.

The Qubein Arena and Conference Center also serves as an experiential learning environment for students. Before the game, attendees can browse HPU apparel in the Panther Boutique and Team Store, which is operated by HPU students. And communication majors host game day pre-shows that air on HPU+, the university’s streaming platform.

Having opened in 2021, this sparkling 350,000-squarefoot facility elevates the experience of not only HPU athletics but major events as well. The complex includes a 2,500-seat conference center and a 30-room boutique hotel. It has become the perfect site for hosting concerts with award-winning artists and large-scale HPU traditions such as Commencement ceremonies and the Annual Veterans Day Celebration. ■

INNOVATORS IN ACTION

How to Land That Job: Thriving in the Workplace with Dee Ann Turner

HPU students preparing to launch successful careers benefit tremendously by connecting with Dee Ann Turner, former Chick-fil-A Vice President for Talent and HPU’s Talent Acquisition Expert in Residence. Turner hosts lunches and seminars, including the one featured in the QR code below, that equip students with the skills they’ll need to not only land the job but also to thrive in the workforce.

WATCH: A former Chick-fil-A Executive’s insight on impressing employers

Where else do students work with the Co-Founder of Apple Computer?

Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak has served as HPU’s Innovator in Residence for more than 10 years. From mentoring engineering majors with robotics projects to holding campus-wide discussions about artificial intelligence, every student has access to his extraordinary expertise.

WATCH: Steve Wozniak shares ways graduates can stand out in a technology-driven workforce.

A Powerful Network:

Multiple in-residence members from a variety of industries often combine their visits to maximize networking and learning opportunities for students. CEO of the Dallas Mavericks Cynt Marshall, HPU’s Sports Executive in Residence, and ABC Nightline Co-Anchor Byron Pitts, HPU’s Journalist in Residence (both pictured center), participated in a joint Q&A, lunch and real-world exercise with students during a recent visit.

WATCH: A Simulated Crisis Exercise Builds Life Skills

While people only dream of meeting the impactful leaders who are part of HPU’s Access to Innovators program, HPU students continually work with them and learn from them on campus.

Everybody’s in Sales

Larry Quinn, chair of the Department of Sales and Marketing, is also HPU’s Sales Professional in Residence. Quinn’s experience includes serving as a top executive for Xerox and EDS. He leads HPU’s Professional Selling Club, open to all majors, and equips students with sales skills that are valuable in any field.

WATCH: Expert Tips on How to Sell Yourself in a Job Interview

Gaining Global Perspective

William Kennard, HPU’s Global Leader in Residence, is a former U.S. Ambassador to the European Union and chairman of the FCC. He regularly shares his expertise with students on complex geopolitical and global economic issues. He also encourages students to step up and lead far beyond the classroom and workplace.

WATCH: A Former U.S. Ambassador shares his wisdom with students.

HPU News: Marc Randolph Mentors Students

Marc Randolph, HPU’s Entrepreneur in Residence and Netflix Co-Founder, visits campus regularly to support HPU’s student entrepreneurs of every major. Multiple HPU students and graduates have launched businesses thanks to his guidance.

WATCH: The Netflix Co-Founder gives students feedback on their business plans.

LIFE SKILLS SUCCESS CIRCLE:

HPU’s Premier Network of Career Influencers

INNOVATOR IN RESIDENCE

Steve Wozniak

Apple Computer Co-Founder

CORPORATE EXECUTIVE IN RESIDENCE

Russell Weiner Domino’s CEO

ENTREPRENEUR IN RESIDENCE

Marc Randolph

Netflix Co-Founder

JOURNALIST IN RESIDENCE

Byron Pitts Co-Anchor of ABC’s “Nightline”

EXECUTIVE COACH IN RESIDENCE

Dr. John C. Maxwell

Bestselling Author and Internationally Renowned Leadership Expert

DATA EXPERT IN RESIDENCE

Teena Piccione

TALENT ACQUISITION EXPERT IN RESIDENCE

Dee Ann Turner

Former Vice President for Talent at Chick-fil-A

TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVE IN RESIDENCE

Global Transformation & Operations Executive at Google

Sean Suggs President of Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina

DISTINCTION & RELEVANCE EXPERT IN RESIDENCE

Scott McKain

Keynote Speaker, Bestselling Author, Sales & Customer Service Expert

ACTOR IN RESIDENCE

Dean Cain

Famed Actor, Producer, Television Presenter and Former Football Player

PERSUASION EXPERT IN RESIDENCE

Phil Jones

Business Communication Expert, Bestselling Author, Hall of Fame Speaker

CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

EXPERT IN RESIDENCE

Shep Hyken

Award-Winning Keynote Speaker, Bestselling Author, World-Renowned Expert in Customer Service and Customer Experience

HPU is committed to equipping students with life skills that prepare them to adapt to and outlast inevitable technological disruption. As one example, HPU’s Access to Innovators program welcomes 30+ global leaders to campus to work with students. These leaders also provide hands-on learning experiences in the real world at their company’s industry headquarters. Here’s a glimpse of industry experts who are mentoring students every year. To see them all, scan the QR code or visit www.highpoint.edu/innovators

SPORTS BUSINESS EXECUTIVE IN RESIDENCE

Charlie Freeman President of Business Operations

LEADERSHIP EXPERT IN RESIDENCE

Mark Sanborn

Bestselling Author, Speaker and President of Leadership Development Idea Lab Sanborn & Associates

ALEXANDER JULIAN

FASHION, FURNITURE, TEXTILE DESIGNER AND ENTREPRENEUR IN RESIDENCE

Alexander Julian American Fashion Designer

DENTAL INNOVATOR IN RESIDENCE

Dr. Rick Workman Founder of Heartland Dental

SPORTS REPORTER IN RESIDENCE

Bob Ryan

Famed Sportswriter for The Boston Globe; known as “The Quintessential American Sportswriter”

HEALTH CARE EXECUTIVE IN RESIDENCE

Dr. Ellen Zane CEO Emeritus of Tufts Medical Center

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERT IN RESIDENCE

Marilyn Sherman Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker

WEALTH MANAGEMENT EXPERT IN RESIDENCE

Mark Bradburn Founder and Co-Managing Financial Advisor of The Bradburn Group at Morgan Stanley

See HPU’s growing Access to Innovators lineup here:

SPORTS EXECUTIVE IN RESIDENCE

Cynt Marshall

CEO of the Dallas Mavericks and Former Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at AT&T

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERT IN RESIDENCE

Dr. Willie Jolley Hall of Fame Speaker and Bestselling Author

BROADCASTER IN RESIDENCE

Joe Michaels

22-year Former Director of NBC’s “TODAY” Show

HEALTH CARE EXPERT IN RESIDENCE

Sue Downes CEO and Co-Founder of MyEyeDr.

LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP

Enjoy these insights shared by transformative people who spend time at High Point University.

Global leaders have long been attracted to High Point University’s entrepreneurial mindset and the opportunity to work with HPU students. Here are lessons in leadership these impactful individuals shared with students when visiting campus over the years.

Some of the individuals below are part of HPU’s Access to Innovators program and return regularly to mentor students. When students meet and engage with these

accomplished leaders, a transformative process takes place. These seemingly larger-than-life role models become advocates for student success – real people with real advice and support. The effect on students is profound and motivates them to achieve their goals. Throughout the next few pages, enjoy a few lessons these leaders have shared with students that you can apply in your own life.

“You are among the winners because you are graduating from this great university. You’re embarking on one of the greatest adventures in your life. You have the vision, the vitality and the imagination to seize the initiative.”

MICHIO KAKU, Physicist & Co-Founder of String Field Theory, 2019 Commencement Speaker

“You learn with experience that some fear is the good stuff. Not all. But when the fear comes from a place of wanting to follow through with a passion – something you believe in, it’s good. When it comes to your future experiences, as you enter the world with your knowledge and excitement, always remember: If you aren’t scared, be worried.”

JOSH GROBAN, Internationally Acclaimed Singer, Songwriter and Actor, 2018 Commencement Speaker

“Find that which you love doing and that which you do well. When you put those two together, you have put into place the road map for a successful and satisfying life.”

COLIN POWELL, Former Secretary of State, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff & National Security Advisor, 2014 Commencement Speaker

“Leadership isn’t about winning. It’s about bringing people with you to the finish line.”

DR. JOHN C. MAXWELL, Bestselling Author & Leadership Expert, and HPU’s Executive Coach in Residence

“Whatever you choose to do, don’t be afraid to take risks or change course. The twists and turns along the way give it meaning and richness and value.”

LAURA BUSH, Former First Lady, 2012 Commencement Speaker

“It’s possible today to live in an echo chamber that serves only to reinforce your own high opinion of yourself and what you think. That is a temptation that educated people must reject. There is nothing wrong with holding an opinion and holding it strongly. But at times when you are sure that you’re absolutely right, go and find somebody who disagrees. Don’t allow yourself the easy course of the constant amen to everything that you say.”

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, 66th Secretary of State, 2016 Commencement Speaker

“I’m a values-based leader, and I rely on my values wherever I’m called to lead. What I have to do in this job and what I’ll have to do in the future is learn the subject matter, and that’s the only really big difference.”

CYNT MARSHALL, Dallas Mavericks CEO and HPU’s Sports Executive in Residence, 2021 Commencement Speaker

“The

only way to figure out if something is a good idea or not is by taking a risk. Stop thinking. Stop planning. Do something.”

MARC RANDOLPH, Co-Founder of Netflix and HPU’s Entrepreneur in Residence

“It’s not about how smart you are. It’s about your values.”

MALCOLM GLADWELL, Bestselling Author of

“The Tipping Point”

“Continuously look for a different way to do things. I’ve always been good at taking things I didn’t know and figuring out how to use them. As engineers, we build new things and new things always move us forward.”

STEVE WOZNIAK, Co-Founder of Apple Computer, Inc.

and HPU’s Innovator in Residence, 2013 Commencement Speaker

“If we join forces to treat each other with compassion, courage and curiosity, always working hard to unlock the truth of this human experiment we call life, think of what an amazing world we’re going to create.”

DANIEL LUBETZKY, Founder of KIND Snacks & CEO of Kind LLC, 2021 Commencement Speaker

“Don’t

shy away from difficult questions. Embrace them. Being a leader, in large part, is being fearless.”

DR. ELLEN ZANE, CEO Emeritus of Tufts Medical Center and HPU’s Health Care Executive in Residence

“People who make a difference in our lives are not the ones with the most credentials or the most money or the most awards. They are the ones who care and put their caring into action.”

BONNIE MCELVEEN-HUNTER, Former U.S. Ambassador to Finland, Philanthropist, First Woman to Chair the American Red Cross, 2023 Commencement Speaker

“I always say I have a foundation of five F’s and one A – faith, finance, friends, family and fun. We underpin it by A, which is attitude. Everything you do and bring is exponentially part of who you are and the fabric that you weave in.”

TEENA PICCIONE, Global Transformation and Operations Executive at Google and HPU’s Data Expert in Residence

As a child, I asked my mother, ‘What is the key to success?’ She said, ‘Son, if you work hard, you pray hard and you treat people right, good things will come of it.’ This is my formula to success.”

BYRON PITTS, Co-Anchor of ABC News’ “Nightline” and HPU’s Journalist in Residence

FEATURES HPU ON The College Tour 

“I can’t believe we haven’t done this already.”

That’s what HPU graduate Grant Hines thought when “The College Tour” reached out to cast him in an episode that would spotlight High Point University.

The internationally known TV series serves as a comprehensive guide to aid in the college search process. The students featured on the show have studied science, journalism, business and other majors, and they’ve served as leaders on campus. With HPU’s episode airing on Amazon Prime and other platforms, add celebrity to their list of achievements.

“ It was an easy ‘yes’ for me when The College Tour casting call came. I love High Point University, and I love sharing my love of this place with others. How much easier can it get?

— Sophia Cina, ’26

Grant Hines Julia Velasquez

Ryan Polidoro

Blake Jones

Ivana Korankyi

Francesca Ellis

Ja’Niyah Williams

Brian Stuart

“My segment was about the caring people on our campus, and this was really significant for me,” says junior Sophia Cina. “I came from Las Vegas, Nevada, to study at High Point University, which for me personally was a huge move. People on campus make that so much easier. When you walk around campus, you’re greeted with a smile. There’s so much for students to do, which shows how much HPU cares about us. Whether it’s Dr. Qubein passing out chocolate on Halloween or Valentine’s Day, all the celebrations and activities, to having the kiosks that offer complimentary snacks and water, it was easy for me to talk about these things because they mean so much to me.”

The opportunity was perfect for Hines, who earned his bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from HPU in 2023, and then his master’s degree in 2024. He launched his career after graduation as a desk assistant at NBC News in Washington, D.C.

“I love being on camera obviously as a broadcast journalism major, but it was a challenge because there is no teleprompter,” says Hines. “I talked about the tuition-free master’s degree in communication and business leadership that HPU offers. It is important to me because I’ve benefited from it, and I wanted to give back and share that opportunity with students who are coming to the university, so they know it’s an option for them no matter what their undergraduate major is.”

A special premiere was held in the spring for the cast and their fellow students in HPU’s Podell Extraordinaire Cinema.

The full episode, which also includes a segment from HPU President Nido Qubein, is available on multiple platforms, including The College Tour’s platform, HPU+, Amazon Prime and others. ■

Watch The College Tour!

Watch HPU’s full episode on The College Tour by scanning the QR Code or visiting you.highpoint.edu/college-tour

High Point University students enjoyed an advanced premiere of HPU’s episode on The College Tour inside HPU’s Podell Extraordinaire Cinema. The student cast, pictured above, made a red carpet appearance.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Here’s what Tyler Cordery loves about living and

learning at High

Point

University!

Hi, I’m Tyler Cordery, a junior studying sport management at HPU. I’m from Logan Township, New Jersey, and I’m excited to give you a glimpse of my busy, fun life at High Point University. There’s always something to do and learn here.

Here is a look at my typical day. Everyone’s schedule is different, but as a student, here are some things you could look forward to experiencing on HPU’s campus!

Jumpstarting My Day at Slane Café

I find it important to energize myself in the morning with breakfast. The Café in the Slane Student Center is the perfect spot to start off your morning before heading to class. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Café offers all-you-can-eat options at breakfast like an omelet bar, coffee station, waffles, bacon, yogurt, fruit and more. The menus change daily, and there’s a lot of variety. I love coming here because the atmosphere is always welcoming. All the workers are friendly and greet you with a smile, and the positive environment gives me the motivation I need to start my day. At lunch in the Café, there’s even live music every day. It’s an energizing place where you’ll see a lot of friends.

Quick Snack at the Kiosk

On my way to class, I stop by one of the kiosks located throughout campus. These kiosks are stocked with free grab-and-go snacks to prepare you for a day full of classes and activities. From 7-10 a.m., you can get water, fruit, granola bars, muffins and more. There’s even hot chocolate and tea during the colder months.

Studying Sport Management

My first class of the day is Organization Behavior in Sport Organizations in the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication. We’re learning how to be an effective leader in sports. I’ve always wanted a career in the sports industry, and HPU’s education is helping me make that happen. We often learn from global leaders in the industry thanks to HPU’s Access to Innovators program. I’ve met many influential people, including Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall, who serves as HPU’s Sports Executive in Residence, right here on campus.

Real-World Experience

Now is a good time to talk about the learning experiences I have outside of class, too. At HPU, I’ve had so many great opportunities to learn both inside and outside of the classroom. I was selected for an externship with the Dallas Mavericks, where my classmates and I traveled to Dallas, Texas, and shadowed executive leadership to gain an understanding of how each department contributes to the greater organization. And I’ve networked with alumni in the industry who work for the MLB, NBA, Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic, the Nashville Predators, LiveNation and more! The opportunities at HPU are endless!

Study Session in Cottrell Hall

The Farmers Market with Friends

After class, it’s time for lunch with my friends. I’m heading to the Farmers Market, another buffet-style dining location on campus. They offer build-your-own Tex-Mex and stir fry, a sandwich station, homemade soups and more. My favorite part about Farmers is that the food is always fresh and healthy. Today, I decided to grab a sandwich and nachos with chicken and cheese.

I have some homework to do before my next class, so I’m heading to Cottrell Hall. Part of what makes Cottrell my favorite study spot is that there are plenty of comfortable and quiet spaces for studying, including boardrooms where you can practice presentations. Cottrell is also great because it’s home to one of two Starbucks on campus, so I can grab coffee or a snack while I study. In this Starbucks, there is an airplane fuselage, which was designed with learning in mind and to help students practice their networking, social and communication skills even when they travel.

Dinner at The Butterfly Café

After all my classes are done for the day, I’m heading to my favorite dining location on campus, The Butterfly Café. They offer Mediterranean-inspired dishes and flavors as well as fresh pastries, gelato and an assortment of coffees and teas. Today, I’m having a chocolate croissant and the Mediterranean experience entrée. I love how I get to build my own meal and can choose from a variety of different proteins, vegetables, toppings and sauces. The atmosphere in The Butterfly Café is relaxing and a great place to work on a group project with some fellow sport management majors. We’re heading to the national College Sport Research Institute Conference to present a case study on restructuring the NCAA to solve disparity issues. It’s just another great experiential learning opportunity I’ve had at HPU.

Tennis Time

I’m ending my day at the Millis Tennis Courts for a fun

Why You’ll Love Living at HPU

Students love the balance of energetic opportunities and serene environments on HPU’s campus. No matter your major, there’s always something to do and always a place where you can go to unwind with friends. Here’s a glimpse:

300 + Annual Events, Including Major Concerts, Movie Nights, Fall and Spring Carnivals, Winterfest and More!

20+ Dining Locations and Weekly Food Trucks

9 Fitness Facilities

Including a Spin Studio and Weight Lift Fitness Center

3 Intramural Fields and Indoor Track

34 Club Sports Teams

300 Intramural Teams

200+ Clubs and Organizations

17 Greek Organizations

Nearly 100 outdoor spaces for studying and hanging out with friends, including:

• 6 Lighted Tennis and Pickleball Courts

• 3

Outdoor Basketball Courts

Outdoor Pools

Hayworth Park

International Promenade

Mariana Qubein Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

Butterfly Café Courtyard

Order of the Lighted Lamp Plaza

Swings by Greek Village

Fire Island

Firepits at Slane, Cottrell and Panther Commons

Outdoor Patios at Every Student Center and Academic School

Values-Based Living and Learning (noun)

The foundation on which one stands in a world where technology is advancing the speed at which decisions need to be made. At HPU, we strive to model and honor values such as generosity, faith, gratitude, civility, respect, patriotism, free enterprise and the principles on which our nation was founded. American flags fly across campus next to sculptures of bald eagles and a boy holding folded stars and stripes against his chest. The Cottrell Amphitheater, pictured here, is one example of many spaces on campus that proudly display red, white and blue. The Kester International Promenade is lined with historical sculptures such as Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Benjamin Franklin and Rosa Parks, while inspirational quotes are inscribed along the sidewalks. “Parents spend their lives modeling values for their children,” says HPU President Nido Qubein. “When they send their student to a university, they want it to uphold and further those values. And when students choose a university, they want an institution that will serve as an extension of their home.”

VALUES

VALUES

From left to right: Gena Ghandour, Abby Schneid and Chris Czerwinski come from different walks of faith but have found spiritual communities that support one another on campus.

ROOTS AND BEYOND PRESERVING faith traditions

HPU’S

METHODIST

Students from all backgrounds foster their faith at HPU.

Chris Czerwinski, ’24, rocks out every Sunday morning. He plays saxophone in the Collision Contemporary Worship Band during services in Hayworth Chapel.

“It’s a ton of fun,” says the Board of Stewards member and former outreach coordinator. “It’s not just hymns. It’s popular stuff people can sing and get into.”

High Point University has historical roots as a Methodist college but welcomes and embraces people from all religious backgrounds.

“We don’t weed people out. We weave them in,” says President Nido Qubein.

HPU’s Chapel and Religious Life Office builds on this ecumenical and interfaith vision for religious life in ways that draw from the school’s Methodist legacy.

“Chapel has been an umbrella and safe space for me,” says Czerwinski. “What’s cool is when freshmen come to campus, they find friends to go to church on Sunday or a Bible study with, and that group of good friends will care about them and help them with their spirituality.”

Hayworth Chapel has a global audience. Although its pews hold 300 students, services are livestreamed.

“It’s not just students watching,” says Vice President and Minister to the University Rev. Dr. Preston Davis. “It’s moms, dads, alumni and grandparents. They comment on Facebook and Instagram during worship. We want them to be part of the experience their sons and daughters get here.”

An Inclusive Approach

The Christian concept of “radical hospitality” is practiced at HPU. Students of all religious backgrounds can find a home on campus and know they belong here.

Jewish students attend Friday night services before Shabbat dinner under the auspices of Hillel, a nondenominational Jewish campus organization. Jewish and non-Jewish students attend interfaith Passover Seders, where they hear the Exodus story and its importance to Jewish identity. Hillel also organizes social events as well as fun activities like sing-alongs and gift exchanges.

“As soon as I stepped on campus, I felt at home. I love how diverse the student body is. It has truly been a

blessing to be part of the HPU family,” says Abby Schneid, ’26, a member of HPU’s Hillel community. Muslim students from countries including the U.S., Pakistan, Sudan and Egypt gather in the multi-faith prayer and meditation space. Located beside the Fellowship Hall, the prayer room has hand-and-foot washing stations designed for Muslims who purify themselves before prayer. The space is open to all students to pray or meditate between classes.

“Anyone is welcome,” says Gena Ghandour, ’26, who co-founded HPU’s Muslim Students Association. “We do different celebrations and cultural events because in Islam, there are many different cultures.”

Fostering Faith

There are many clubs on campus that students can join to connect with like-minded individuals and make friends with people from other backgrounds, too. In addition to organizations like the Chapel Board of Stewards, Hillel and Catholic Campus Ministry, there is also an Interfaith Club and a Diversity Club.

Students foster their faith off campus, too through pastoral ministry internships and pilgrimage trips. Every year, students travel to new locations where faith is celebrated in different ways, such as Christ in the Desert, the nation’s most remote monastery in Abiquiu, New Mexico.

“HPU students are engaged with the world. A monastery visit might be the last thing they think of, but going there makes them realize their spiritual life needs to be foundational to their lives,” says Davis.

Spreading the Gospel

Something unexpected happened when Czerwinski came to HPU from Pennsylvania.

“One of the biggest surprises I got was how faithful and religious the South is,” he says. “Southern hospitality comes from the gospel. It’s inspirational.”

In his outreach role, Czerwinski partnered with the Black Student Union and invited sororities and fraternities to Chapel. He and other students helped a local women’s shelter, held a silent auction, greeted visitors, created an Angel Tree to give children gifts and sang Christmas carols.

“The goal at the end of the day for every Christian church and organization is the same to spread the gospel and good news of Christ with as many people as possible,” says Czerwinski. “That’s what makes faith life at HPU a success.” ■

HISTORY BEHIND HPU’S HAYWORTH CHAPEL

The doors of Hayworth Chapel are open to all. The serene, open space first greeted worshipers in 1972, and its exterior and interior remain true to their architectural origins.

The chapel takes its name from Charles E. Hayworth Sr., the father of the late trustee Charles E. Hayworth Jr. A later expansion of the chapel is named after another son, David R. Hayworth. Portraits of the father and his son, Charles Hayworth Jr., adorn the chapel’s vestibule.

The first place of worship on High Point University’s campus, then High Point College, was established in 1949 and located in the historic Roberts Hall. The Memorial Auditorium was fitted with pews, an altar rail and pulpit furniture. It held chapel assemblies and other religious events.

Hayworth Chapel blends tradition and innovation. Nine stained-glass windows tell the arc of the Biblical story and bring both spiritual and natural light to services.

The ceiling and pews are intentionally painted different shades of blue.

“When you enter the chapel, you’re not just entering the chapel, you’re entering the Creation story. You’re entering the second day of Creation where God separated the waters above from the waters below,” says Minister to the University Rev. Dr. Preston Davis.

Following a 1986 fire, renovations added a balcony that boosted seating to 300. The same year, a pipe organ by noted manufacturer M.P. Möller began to uplift services with traditional hymns. The chapel also welcomes contemporary accompaniment to worship in the form of modern gospel groups and student praise bands.

This inspirational brick edifice is fronted by a white Georgian pediment and columns and topped by a 95-foot-tall steeple. Above it stands an eye-catching 7-foot handmade cross that combines elements of the French and Celtic crosses.

Besides Sunday ecumenical services, Catholic mass, Wednesday vespers and Thursday noon communion are also held in the chapel.

TIMELESS TRADITIONS

TEACH VALUES

Since HPU President Dr. Nido R. Qubein began leading High Point University in 2005, no one could ignore the transformation of the campus and dramatic growth of the institution. Less obvious are the internal changes within students, faculty and staff as they absorb a valuesbased culture created to increase a positive impact on the world as it will be.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY OF SERVICE

HPU students and faculty honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy with service events by observing MLK Day as “a day on, not a day off.” Students have joined together for service projects by delivering thousands of meals to feed families in need, packing thousands of seeds for community gardens or writing thank-you notes to first responders.

THE BALD EAGLE

A bald eagle soars over students when they first arrive to HPU at Convocation and when they graduate at Commencement. The eagle serves as a symbol of patriotism, free enterprise, independence and the ability to pursue new opportunities in America. This beloved tradition also takes place at other university events, including the HPU’s Annual Veterans Day Celebration, and has made national headlines.

CHAPEL SERVICES

HPU was established in 1924 through a partnership with the United Methodist Church. In carrying that heritage, weekly Christian worship services are offered in the chapel on campus. The Chapel and Religious Life Office also provides inclusive year-round programming for a variety of faiths. With students from all 50 states and 56 countries with an array of faiths, HPU has a tradition of fostering the religious life of students from all backgrounds.

GIFTS OF GRATITUDE

Each freshman is enrolled in the First-Year Seminar on Life Skills, during which Dr. Qubein describes HPU’s core values and offers a lesson using a teddy bear. As part of the seminar, each freshman receives a teddy bear purchased from the American Red Cross and is instructed to give that bear to a person who has changed their life for the better.

Students are encouraged to evaluate who has been a great influence in their lives. They ponder it and sometimes present their teddy bear to a parent, grandparent, teacher or mentor. One student gave her bear to the nurse who had cared for her grandfather before his death at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in New York City. That simple act of kindness became a symbol of caring for the Mayo Clinic.

BLANKETS OF COMFORT

New students receive a blanket at Opening Convocation, and President Nido Qubein encourages them to give it to someone who has provided support, warmth and comfort in their lives. Many students give it to their parents after the ceremony as a way to say thank you before their first semester at college begins. The blanket is a valuable lesson in teaching students to express gratitude often.

BUILDING BIKES FOR KIDS

HPU freshmen work together to build bicycles for 150 local children on the Sunday of Move-In Weekend. On their first day of classes, freshmen then surprise local children by presenting new bikes to them and spending quality time with them.

HONOR CODE SIGNING

Because HPU is a values-based university, freshmen gather during Welcome Week to sign the University Honor Code. The ceremony sets the tone for academic and personal integrity and character development. Signing the 6-by-8-foot honor code represents the student’s pledge to maintain an environment of honor and integrity. The ceremony also reflects HPU’s belief that students rise to the level of the environment in which they live.

NEVER FORGET

A major installation inside the main lobby of the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center is a 30-foot-wide American flag, commissioned by HPU and custom-built out of plexiglass. Underneath the flag display are the words, “God. Family. Country,” which are fashioned from 3,000 pounds of steel from the Twin Towers in New York City. The steel was donated by David Griffin Jr., an HPU parent and CEO of D.H. Griffin Company, which conducted restoration work after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The display shows that HPU respects our nation and represents how faith, family and freedom are essential to HPU’s values.

HPU HEROES

You’ll find pieces of history around campus that tell the stories of alumni who have served in the Armed Forces, including a Medal of Honor received by alumnus Jack Lucas, ’56. President Harry Truman honored Lucas for his heroic actions while serving in Iwo Jima on February 20, 1945. When the lives of his fellow men were endangered by two grenades that landed directly in front of them, Lucas acted quickly and threw himself down over one grenade

and pulled the second one under his body to shield and protect his companions. Lucas was severely injured, but his bravery helped save his comrades. After the war, Lucas earned a business degree from High Point College. He passed away in 2008 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. His Medal of Honor is on display in the Smith Library for students, faculty, staff and visitors to view.

HONORING THE BRAVE

Each year, HPU rolls out a red carpet to honor more than 2,000 veterans and their family members in the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center for the Annual Veterans Day Celebration. The event features patriotic speakers and music, including a performance of “America the Beautiful” by the HPU Chamber Singers while Clark, a bald eagle, soars above the audience. Veterans are encouraged to sign the Star of Service and Sacrifice, which is displayed on HPU’s campus. At the end of the event, more than 150 student and staff volunteers give a blanket to each veteran, symbolizing the warmth and comfort veterans bring to our daily lives.

STUDENTS SPARK NATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR VETERANS

Each year at HPU’s Annual Veterans Day Celebration, Operation K.A.R.E. (Knowledge. Awareness. Results. Empowerment.) donates track chairs to help wounded veterans. The initiative was started by HPU Kappa Alpha Order members in 2016 in partnership with The Independence Fund to support catastrophically wounded veterans. The fraternity brothers wanted to

express their gratitude and appreciation to those who served our country.

The project has now grown to include the participation of 75 other KA chapters across the country and has raised and donated more than $1.2 million to provide track chairs and support programs that help veterans overcome physical and psychological war injuries.

other campuses with $1.2 million raised.

HPU’s Kappa Alpha fraternity began an initiative to provide track chairs to catastrophically wounded veterans. Their efforts have resulted in a national effort on 75

SERVANT LEADER REACHES THE SUMMIT

Samuel Johnson worked to prevent youth violence that he saw growing up in Philadelphia.

As a kid, Samuel Johnson had no choice but to help his father feed large crowds of people at the homeless shelters around Philadelphia.

Johnson’s father, Anthony, serves as a youth pastor at a church in Philadelphia, which meant his five sons were required to join him in community service. Johnson admitted he initially didn’t want to participate. However, he soon realized he was making an impact when feeding people in need in his hometown.

“It was eye-opening for me, and what helped me was just to see the smiles on the people’s faces because they needed it,” Johnson says. “That’s kind of what stuck with me when I was young — seeing the impact that I could create just by feeding someone. That is what made me think, ‘This is something I want to do.’”

personal for Johnson, who witnessed violence while growing up in North Philadelphia.

Johnson started feeding the homeless at age 10, and he has continued to understand the lessons that his father instilled in him about the importance of serving. He looked for ways to help people in need after moving from Philadelphia to North Carolina to attend High Point University, where he served as a Bonner Leader. Bonner Leaders are a group of HPU students who serve in various roles like volunteer coordinator at no cost for area nonprofits.

In March 2024, two months before graduating from HPU with a sport management degree, Johnson organized a three-day youth summit at the Morehead Recreation Center in High Point to try to reduce violence involving teenagers. It’s an issue that is

“Samuel Johnson is authentic. There is nothing artificial about him,” says Jim Scott, an assistant professor of the practice of sports media and one of Johnson’s mentors at HPU. “That’s why, even at his young age, he is trusted with great responsibility. It’s why he is already a leader in our community, and it’s why I and many others are convinced that he is destined for ever greater accomplishment because he can be trusted to think, feel and do the right things.”

Leaving Philadelphia for High Point

Johnson has an identical twin brother, Solomon, who’s an hour older than him. Of the five boys, he’s the middle child with two older brothers and two younger brothers.

500,000 HOURS OF ANNUAL SERVICE

Each year, students, faculty and staff contribute 500,000 hours of annual service to local, national and international communities. This story is one example of the HPU family’s commitment to service.

“I grew up around violence. I lived in North Philly. Violence was all over the place,” Johnson says. “My grandma still lives in North Philly, and so growing up around violence made me want to do something to stop it.”

One of Johnson’s teachers at Roxborough High School in Philadelphia happens to be close friends with Netflix Co-Founder Marc Randolph, who serves as HPU’s Entrepreneur in Residence. To show support for HPU and the school where his friend teaches, Randolph established a scholarship that gives exceptional Roxborough students the opportunity to attend HPU.

In 2020, Johnson was offered a full scholarship funded by Randolph to go to HPU. Even though he was nervous about moving to North Carolina, where he didn’t have any friends or family, he couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

“HPU called me and said, ‘We would love to give you a full academic scholarship to come to High Point. Would you accept?’” Johnson says. “Of course I said yes.”

Finding His Purpose

Johnson was selected as a Bonner Leader in addition to being named the second-ever Randolph Scholar from Roxborough. After taking a little time to get situated as a freshman at HPU, he was ready to serve and be a voice to young people in his new community. He decided to focus on an issue that hit close to home for him.

Johnson saw that national crime rates for teenagers ages 13-18 were rising. He wanted to stop more teenagers from becoming victims of violence, and when one of his mentors was unable to host a youth summit as he usually did every year because of health concerns, Johnson decided to organize one.

He lined up motivational speakers and set up games for the teenagers who attended the youth summit to play. He also got a local rapper to perform at the event.

Beyond the Clouds

Johnson said his youth summit was similar to the overnight church events he attended as a teenager, which helped him avoid gang violence and “stay focused on my path and where I wanted to go.”

Johnson’s dream is to someday work as the president or general manager of a professional sports team, perhaps for his beloved Philadelphia Sixers.

“In my classes, I encourage my students to recognize, nurture and celebrate their strengths as those are the things that have the potential to make each of us extraordinary,” Scott says. “Certainly, one wants to attend to one’s weaknesses, but too often that’s all we do. We focus upon them to the exclusion of discovering and embellishing our strengths, and in so doing, we limit the summit of our potential. Sam is climbing his summit literally with his youth summit. Sam’s summit reaches beyond the clouds because he understands his strengths and is already applying them to the benefit of our community.” ■

Pictured above are students gathered inside the Morehead Recreation Center in High Point for a youth summit that HPU student Samuel Johnson organized.

Why Parents Love and Appreciate HPU

Watch this video to meet more HPU Parents and hear directly from them on why HPU was best for their student:

“In one of the hardest moments of my life as a parent, HPU made college drop-off a joyous occasion! Thank you, HPU, for welcoming my son, loving him as one of your own and pouring into him so that he can learn the skills he needs to achieve his dreams. My family and I are forever grateful.”

Natalie Monroe, HPU mom of Ryan Monroe (pictured far left) from Alexandria, Louisiana

“HPU has the resources, ecosystem and professionals to help students figure out and reach their goals.”

David Amigo, HPU dad of three: Cooper (second from left), Joshua (middle) and Zachary (far right)

“The environment at HPU sets the standard and instills a great lesson for how students treat their future workplace and home.”

Kathy Esposito, HPU mom of four, Mac (far left), Ruby (third from left), Nick (third from right) and Cosmo (far right)

“HPU is leagues ahead when it comes to affording young adults opportunities to take initiative and participate in real-world situations.”

Danielle Clos, HPU mom with three of four children who attended HPU: Lyndsey (third from left); Riley (second from right) and Ally (far left). This photo was taken at Lyndsey’s Convocation Ceremony in 2015. Riley and Ally are now current students at HPU.

“We love a lot of things about HPU, but the focus on Life Skills and the fact that President Qubein teaches these important life lessons in the Life Skills Seminar – it’s all spot on with what they need for the real world. Other universities just miss the boat on that.”

Doug Kubanka, HPU dad of four: (from left to right) Troy, Kyle, Tyler and Ryan, from Rochester, New York

“HPU is truly extraordinary. This is not just a slogan or tagline. They embody every facet of the word. I believe my son will be extremely well prepared for the modern world upon his graduation, which is something I could not honestly say about most universities we have been to.”

Matthew Law, HPU dad of Noah Law, second from left, from Wilmington, North Carolina

“We love that HPU is so focused on providing real-life experiences to students. Classroom curriculum at HPU is impressive, but HPU also thrives in preparing students to excel once they step off campus. Everyone on the HPU campus has a vested interest in creating a successful environment.”

Patrick Murphy

HPU dad of Parker (second from right) and Riley (right) from Grand Rapids, Michigan

Pictured are members of the Lowrey family who graduated from HPU over the years. From left to right are Thad Lowrey, Class of 1962; Sam Lowrey, Class of 1991; Coy Lowrey, Class of 2025; Cayla Lowrey, Class of 2022; and Stefanie Lowrey, wife of Sam and mother Coy and Cayla.

THE LOWREY FAMILY: AN HPU LEGACY

HPU CREATES CONNECTIONS FOR THREE GENERATIONS

The Lowrey family is a part of High Point University’s history, with connections dating back to HPU’s founder and continuing today through the third generation of students. Here’s a glimpse at the legacy of HPU pride their family carries.

THAD LOWREY, CLASS OF 1962

You could say it started with Thad Lowrey, who graduated from then-High Point College in 1962, but his family ties go back further to the university’s founding. His grandmother, Mary Jane Moore Lowrey, was a cousin to John Calvin Roberts, who pledged $10,000 in 1901 to build the college.

Thad’s time as a student helped him discover radio as his passion and career.

“Working in radio during college drew me to the broadcast industry,” says Thad. “I spent more than 25 years owning and operating several radio stations in West Central Florida.”

After years as a radio talk show host, Thad retired in 2018 to enjoy splitting his time between his Florida home and the family’s farm in Oak Ridge, North Carolina.

SAM COY LOWREY, CLASS OF 1991

Thad’s son, Samuel “Sam” Coy Lowrey II, grew up in Florida but enjoyed the family farm. High Point College’s location 20 minutes from the homestead made it attractive. Sam followed in his father’s footsteps and was active on campus through intramural sports, as well as president of his fraternity until he graduated in 1991.

“I was a business and economics major, and I recall a professor who was with Lockheed Martin and had real-life business experience that was impactful to me as a student,” says Sam.

Sam graduated during the year High Point College officially made the transition to High Point University. He went on to work with Boat America Corporation in Florida. He was promoted to assistant vice president of operations before being recruited in 2004 by Marine Max, where he is vice president of real estate. His family lived near Tampa, Florida, for nearly 20 years and recently built a home on the family farm in Oak Ridge.

CAYLA LOWREY, Class of 2022

When Sam and Stefanie Lowrey’s daughter, Cayla, began researching interior design programs, HPU kept appearing at the top of her list.

“We happened to be going to our family farm the summer before her sophomore year, and we were talking about HPU,” says Sam. “It was on the way, so I made a quick call to the school explaining that I was an alum and just wanted to drive by. They were so welcoming, and when we drove through campus, my jaw dropped. I had no idea all that had happened at HPU in recent years. My wife and I were amazed! Later that year we set up an official tour and had an incredible ambassador take us around the campus. From that point on, there were no other schools on our daughter’s list and we had not even heard Dr. Nido Qubein speak yet!

“It is hard to imagine what campus was like when my dad attended. It is amazing to see the growth from this small rural college to what it is now. The campus is beautiful every building developed with intention. When my wife and I sat in an Open House and listened to Dr. Qubein speak about HPU as a God, family and country school, for us as parents it provided deep pride and passion as to why we send our children to HPU!”

From left to right, siblings Coy Lowrey, ‘25, and Cayla Lowrey, ‘22, are pictured next to their grandfather, Thad Lowrey, ‘62, at Cayla’s graduation. The family spans three generations of HPU graduates but also has ancestors connected to the founding of High Point College.

Pictured front and center of this yearbook photo is Sam Lowrey, ‘91, during his time as a student.

The concept of a God, family and country university was one of many qualities that drew Cayla to HPU.

“While there, I saw what those words truly meant to the HPU community and how they shaped us into the people we would become after graduating,” says Cayla.

Cayla, ’22, earned her bachelor’s degree in interior design and made professional business connections that led to her career as an interior designer at CJMW Architecture in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her firm designed the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center, which opened in 2021. Cayla lives now at the family farm and says It feels surreal to work on HPU design projects.

COY LOWREY, Class of 2025

Cayla’s brother, Coy, was a high school junior when the pandemic began. He followed his parents’ advice to apply to HPU, later visited campus for an in-person interview and received a Presidential Scholarship.

“It was the only campus still operating with in-person experiences during the pandemic, which made a real impression on me,” says Coy, ’25. “My interview was impactful to me the fact that I was not just an application but someone HPU valued enough to spend the time and effort to meet and get to know. Now that I am a junior, I am so grateful for the way my path turned out.”

Bonding with his Kappa Alpha fraternity brothers and learning from professors who share knowledge from their successful business careers have shaped Coy’s experience as a finance major.

“I know the education I receive from HPU will launch me into a successful career,” says Coy. “I have been able to express and grow in my personal beliefs and take advantage of all that HPU has to offer.”

Sam and Stefanie joined the Parents Council, participate in recruitment events in the Tampa area and serve as parent admissions volunteers. Sam reflects on lifelong friendships he made at HPU, the outstanding campus culture and its transformation.

“Even between the time Cayla started in the fall of 2018 and Coy moved in during fall 2023, there are several new buildings and a new plan for even more growth. Seeing the Qubein Arena was incredible after having played intramural basketball in a small gym,” says Sam.

“As an educator, I understand the value of instilling a mission and vision into students and their families,” says Stefanie, an assistant principal at Christ the King

Catholic School in Tampa. “As I listened to Dr. Qubein and his staff during the Open House, I was in awe as a parent and as someone in the field. Everything that was said all the protocols and expectations were so intentional and mission-aligned. I have seen both Cayla and Coy not only learn skills specific to their course of study, but I have seen them connect with people, gain confidence in their abilities and themselves and develop into young adults whose goal it is to be productive members of our society. They understand the value of hard work and having a growth mindset. High Point University has been the best place for our family, and we are so deeply grateful to be a part of this extraordinary community.” ■

From left to right, Coy, Cayla, Stefanie and Sam Lowrey are pictured at the 2018 Convocation Ceremony when Cayla began her freshman year at HPU.

The Legacy of HPU’S STEEL MAGNOLIAS

Friendships blossomed into a dedicated alumnae group that supports student scholarships.

Unwavering friendships that began on campus bloomed into something special for a group of women who have graduated from HPU over the years, including Anne Kerr Walker, ’60. The Steel Magnolias, alumnae who graduated primarily between 1953 to 1980, have contributed to HPU’s values by providing scholarships to students and spearheading the mission to enhance campus by adding magnolia trees.

Affectionately called the “Maggies,” the seeds for the Steel Magnolias were planted in the early 1950s, in the days of High Point College, with bonds that were created in the women’s residence hall and at campus events.

“The Steel Magnolias probably began back in the early 1950s with friendships that were formed in what was known as the Woman’s Hall at High Point College, in the bookstore as we danced to ‘Sixty Minute Man,’ in the weekly assemblies we were required to attend and in the gym, where we cheered for the Panthers,” says Walker.

When Marie Coleman and Maxine Mast invited a handful of college friends to lunch in the early 1960s, the Maggies began to form. The small group of women soon grew as each one invited more friends. The gatherings started as casual get-togethers for them to reunite with their close college friends.

Over the years, it evolved into a cherished tradition.

Fast forward to 2008 when HPU’s Alumni Office invited the Steel Magnolias to reunite and host their next meeting on campus. Walker, who admired the group for allowing her to reconnect with old classmates and friends, was asked to step into the role of president. She enjoyed sharing life updates and laughter at the group’s meetings, reminding her of her days at High Point College.

With Walker now leading the women as an official HPU alumnae organization, the Steel Magnolias channeled their energy toward enriching the legacy of HPU. An advisory board was selected, bylaws were written and programs were carefully planned for each group meeting. The ladies wanted to show their love for their alma mater by giving back to current HPU students, so a scholarship

The Steel Magnolias are a group of alumnae who have established an endowed scholarship fund to support students. The scholarships are funded, in part, by their magnolia tree initiative, which allows HPU families to add a magnolia tree to campus in honor of someone they love.

fund was created. Each member contributes annually to the fund, and the amount has grown from $3,000 to more than $210,000. The Steel Magnolias award three scholarships annually to outstanding HPU students.

Planting with a Purpose

Members of the Steel Magnolias range from teachers and school administrators, CPAs, interior designers, CEOs of small companies and leaders from every walk of life. Each member shares the common goal of giving back to HPU. They meet four times annually and welcome members from across North Carolina.

“The Steel Magnolias made me the person I am today,” says member Marie Coleman. “I have loved every minute I have spent with the group.”

Mariana Qubein, wife of HPU president Dr. Nido Qubein, is also a loyal member of the Maggies.

To continue to beautify HPU’s campus, the Maggies partnered with the Mariana H. Qubein Arboretum and Botanical Gardens to plant dozens of magnolia trees throughout campus. They invited HPU family members to fund a magnolia tree planted in honor or in memory of someone. For

example, Walker has donated multiple trees in memory of her husband, her sister and her brother. A personalized plaque is placed at the base of each tree.

Over 200 trees have been planted throughout campus, resulting in HPU boasting the second-largest magnolia tree garden in the state. The Steel Magnolias have also established an endowment that supports long-term care for the trees.

“Everyone has a different reason for supporting these trees, but whatever the reason, it is a wonderful idea and a beautiful thing to do,” says Walker.

Leaving a Legacy

Sharyn Andrews leads the group as president today.

“Leading the Steel Magnolias is a particular honor for me since my mom, Patricia White Moore, was one of the original members,” says Andrews. “I feel so blessed to lead this amazing group of women who care so deeply about the university and who want to stay connected and invest in its future.”

Walker retired in December 2022 after serving as president of the Steel Magnolias for 13 years. During her time in the role, she

At the meeting where Anne Kerr Walker concluded her leadership as president of HPU’s Steel Magnolias, President Nido Qubein honored her with a special gift.

increased the group’s membership from 30 to 100 women.

Both women appreciate the memories and bonds developed over the years because of the Steel Magnolias and hope the group never forgets the importance of friendship.

“I have given the Steel Magnolias my best effort,” says Walker. “It has been done with love, respect and admiration. I hope they will maintain their commitment to excellence, honesty and integrity, and that they will continue to succeed, be productive and make a difference in our world.” ■

Pictured from left are Logan Lucenti and brother Calvin Lucenti with their neighbors and childhood friends, Carson Conheeny and sister Elise Conheeny, while back home in Rhode Island. The four students all found HPU to be the perfect university for them.

Two Families

Four Students

HPU’S NATIONAL PROMINENCE IS WELL-KNOWN IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE PORTSMOUTH, RHODE ISLAND.

High Point University’s prestigious reputation not only attracts students from all over the country, but it often attracts multiple students from the same families and neighborhoods.

Rhode Island natives Logan and Calvin Lucenti, sister and brother, chose to attend HPU, and growing up in the Northeast, these siblings were well aware of the

university’s notoriety. So were their childhood friends and neighbors, Elise and Carson Conheeny, also sister and brother.

Nearly 700 miles from home, the four students from Portsmouth found their own ways to HPU’s campus. But they all chose HPU as the best university for them and thrived here.

“ I thought to myself, ‘My best friends are coming here. My sister goes here. All right. I would love to come here.’”

— Sophomore Carson Conheeny from Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Growing up, the siblings lived across the street from each other. Calvin and Carson were best friends and high school basketball teammates.

When public places in their hometown closed during the coronavirus pandemic, their parents came up with a rule to help keep them safe. They told Calvin and Carson and their older sisters, Logan and Elise, that they could hang out together as long as they stayed in their neighborhood.

The four teenagers ended up playing outside every day. They jumped on the Lucenti’s in-ground trampoline and spent hours shooting hoops on the Conheeny’s basketball goal.

“It was like back and forth every single day,” Logan said. “We were always together.”

Considering how close the two families are, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Logan, Elise, Calvin and Carson attended High Point University together.

Logan, the oldest of the group, graduated in May from HPU with a marketing degree. Elise is a junior majoring in sport management, while Carson and Calvin are sophomores.

“It’s really nice having somebody you can be yourself around,” Elise said about attending HPU with her brother, who’s 13 months younger than her. “And it’s like a piece of home.”

Their Different Paths to HPU

Logan was the first of the four to enroll at HPU. She considered a variety of schools, but then her high school guidance counselor recommended HPU and suggested she take a campus tour.

Calvin, who’s two years younger than Logan, joined his sister when she visited HPU for the first time.

Elise planned to stay closer to home for college. She decided to keep an open mind, though, and she was sold on attending HPU after Logan showed her around campus during a Presidential Scholarship Weekend.

Calvin and Carson’s journey to HPU was a little more complicated.

When it was Calvin’s time to make his college decision, he initially didn’t want to go to the same school as his big sister. He was looking to play college basketball, but when he decided during his senior year of high school that his playing days were over, he thought some more about HPU.

“I really like how connected they are with you, and you have easy access to tutors if you’re struggling in class,” Calvin said. “I’ve always liked small classroom sizes, and that’s what originally brought me here as well.”

Carson, meanwhile, enrolled at another university as a freshman to play college football. He quickly discovered it wasn’t the right fit for him, and he told Calvin that he needed his help to convince Carson’s parents that they should let him go to HPU.

“I thought to myself, ‘My best friends are coming here. My sister goes here. All right. I would love to come here,’” Carson said.

Closer Than Ever

All four neighbors grew closer from their time hanging out together at HPU. They often ran into each other on campus, and when fall break arrived during the 2023-24 academic year, they traveled back home to Portsmouth together.

They loved having their siblings with them at college. Logan and Calvin shared a car and often went shopping at Target. At the same time, Elise and Carson have spent hours studying together for their final exams.

“In high school, his friends were also my friends, and it was hard to balance that,” Elise said. “But I feel like in college it’s a completely different story, and we’re closer than we’ve ever been for sure.” ■

CELEBRATING ATHLETIC MILESTONES

A glimpse of some of HPU’s most monumental achievements over the last 100 years

Pictured from left to right are the first members to be inducted into HPU’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015: Karen Curtis McConico, ’98; Andreia Blanchard, ’81; Bob Davidson, ’55; Brian Payne, ’93; Jerry Steele, athletic director from 1972-1998 and basketball coach for a school-record 31 seasons from 1972-2003; Otis Foster, ’78; Gene Littles, ’69.

Athletics play a crucial role in the history of High Point University, where the new Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center also features historical displays honoring some of the most decorated athletes over the years. It’s impossible to include every notable athletic milestone here, but these monumental achievements are worth noting as HPU honors its centennial anniversary in 2024.

ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME

In 2015, High Point Athletics inducted its first Hall of Fame class. HPU legends Andreia Blanchard, Dick Culler, Karen Curtis McConico, Bob Davidson, Otis Foster, Gene Littles, Brian Payne and Jerry Steele were a part of the first-ever HPU Athletics Hall of Fame Class. Since then, HPU has inducted five classes, with the last being in 2022. In all, there are 32 individuals in the Hall of Fame, while the 1977-78 women’s basketball team is the lone team inducted for its championship in 1978.

TOP DRAFTED PANTHER PROFESSIONALS

Throughout the years, the success of HPU studentathletes has been noticed nationally. There have been a multitude of Panthers drafted within the top two rounds. In 1975, baseball standout Otis Foster was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the first round (15th overall). It was in 2016 that Dan Lomas was selected in the second round (16th overall) of the Major League Lacrosse Draft, while Connor Robinson was taken in the first round (fifth overall) in the National Lacrosse League in 2018. A year later in 2019, Timmy Troutner was drafted in the first round (second overall) in the MLL Draft.

In 2020, men’s soccer goalkeeper Keegan Meyer was selected in the second round (43rd overall) by the New England Revolution in the Major League Soccer

SuperDraft. In 2022, men’s lacrosse star Asher Notling was taken by the Cannons Lacrosse Club in the second round (10th overall) of the Premier Lacrosse League draft. Later in 2022, Holden Trent became the second Panther drafted in the same year as the men’s soccer goalkeeper was selected in the first round (28th overall) in the MLS SuperDraft.

Notably, four High Point baseball players have appeared in the Major Leagues: Dick Culler (1936), Cody Allen (2012), Jaime Schultz (2018) and Andre Scrubb (2020). The world-famous Harlem Globetrotters signed former HPU men’s basketball standout Corey Law (2009-2013) after a tryout in 2013. He joined them in the same year he helped HPU to a Big South Conference regular-season championship. Another member of the 2012-13 title team has played professionally: John Brown (2012-2016). The star forward has been competing overseas and most recently won the 2022-23 French national championship with AS Monaco in his first season with the team.

AIAW DIVISION II NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

On March 25, 1978, the High Point College women’s basketball team captured the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Division II national championship. High Point College defeated South Carolina State, 92-88, in overtime in the tournament final. The Panthers won their final 20 games of the season, including the NCAIAW Division II Tournament final, the Carolinas Conference Tournament final and the AIAW Region II Championship. Marie Riley was named the national championship MVP after scoring a then-school record 42 points in the final. Riley and Ethel White were both named AIAW All-Americans for the season.

From left to right: Dick Culler, Cody Allen, Holden Trent, Corey Law and Otis Foster have one thing in common: They’re former High Point University Panthers who went on to be drafted in the major leagues.

SPORT ADDITIONS: LACROSSE, ROWING, AND FIELD HOCKEY

Over the past decade, HPU Athletics has grown with the addition of men’s and women’s lacrosse, as well as women’s rowing. HPU added men’s lacrosse in 2010 and women’s lacrosse in 2011. The programs have had much success over the past decade. The men have won six championships, while the women have taken home 14 trophies.

In 2023, women’s rowing was announced as the Panthers’ 17th Division I sport, becoming just the third D–I rowing team in the state of North Carolina.

The first competitive season is set to begin during the 2024-25 academic year with Jessica Deitrick at the helm.

The growth of HPU Athletics will continue to blossom with the addition of field hockey in 2027-2028.

THREE CONSECUTIVE SASSER CUP CHAMPIONS

High Point University’s success in the Big South Conference has blossomed over the past three years. In 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24, HPU was awarded the George F “Buddy” Sasser Cup Trophy, which recognizes the Panthers as the top overall athletic institution in the Big South. The back-to-back feats were firsts for HPU as the Panthers became just the sixth school to win the Sasser Cup. HPU also won the Big South Women’s and Men’s All-Sports Trophies for the first time in school history in 2024.

HPU JOINS DIVISION I INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

In 1999, the High Point University Athletic Department joined Division I Intercollegiate Athletics after competing in Division II for many years. The Panthers compete in the Big South Conference in every sport, except men’s lacrosse and women’s rowing. The men’s lacrosse team competed in the Southern Conference until 2023 as it made the switch to the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Panthers join the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as they begin their first season as the 92nd D–I rowing program in the nation.

FIRST NCAA TOURNAMENT WIN

On May 12, 2017, the women’s lacrosse team won High Point University’s first-ever NCAA Tournament game as the Panthers stunned No. 18 Towson, 21-15, in the first round. Darla Poulin netted a career-high six goals with two assists, while Samantha Brown and Erica Perrotta added seven points each. Emory Gaeng scored five goals and recorded an assist, leading to the Panthers’ school-record 16th win in a row and first nationally ranked win since defeating No. 19 Navy in 2012.

Since then, HPU has won NCAA Tournament games in volleyball (3-2 win over Central Florida on April 14, 2021), men’s soccer (2-0 win over North Carolina on Nov. 17, 2022) and men’s baseball (10-9 win over Vanderbilt on June 1, 2024) for four total NCAA Tournament game wins across all sports.

NIDO AND MARIANA QUBEIN ARENA AND CONFERENCE CENTER OPENING

In 2021, High Point University held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the $170 million Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center. The state-of-the-art facility is the home of the HPU men’s and women’s basketball teams while serving as a space for engaged learning inside the conference center and a place for hospitality and experiential learning in the Jana and Ken Kahn Hotel.

In 2024, HPU hosted the Hercules Tires Big South Conference Basketball Championship as the Panthers welcomed 16 teams and hosted the biggest sporting event ever held on High Point University’s campus inside the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center.

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY DYNASTY

The High Point University women’s cross country team has grown into a Big South Conference dynasty. In 2023, the Panthers claimed their Big Southrecord seventh consecutive women’s cross country conference championship and ninth in the last 10 seasons. HPU has won the individual champion six times in the past seven meets, while head coach Remy Tamer has earned Big South Coach of the Year honors five times in back-to-back seasons.

INDOOR TRACK & FIELD NATIONAL RUNNER-UP + GOLD MEDALIST

On March 12, 2022, Sydney Horn reached heights no High Point University student-athlete has achieved as she finished as the national runner-up at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Competing in the pole vault, Horn set a personal best of 4.46m, which also marked a school and Big South record. Horn built on that success, pairing her national runner-up honors with a record-breaking performance at the U23 North American, Central Caribbean Athletics Association Championships in 2023 as she represented the USA and won a gold medal.

SYDNEY HORN

A BANNER YEAR

FOR BASKETBALL

It was a season filled with success for the men’s and women’s basketball teams in 2023-2024. Both teams were crowned Big South Conference regular-season champions just before the conference tournament was held on HPU’s campus for the

This is the second time that both the men’s and women’s teams won the regular-season titles and entered the tournament as the No. 1 seeds. Both teams also clinched the title in 2013-2014.

Two Coaches of the Year

It was also the debut season for men’s head coach Alan Huss. Huss came to HPU from Creighton University and rebuilt the men’s basketball team. The roster included several international players, as well as players who hail a stone’s throw from campus.

Together, the men’s basketball team created magic on the court for fans

who packed the Qubein Arena for every home game this year. It led to Huss being named Big South Coach of the Year.

Returning women’s coach Chelsea Banbury was also named coach of the year another instance where the men’s and women’s basketball teams both captured success this season. It’s the second time she’s earned the Big South Coach of the Year honor and the second time an HPU coach has won the award multiple times. This season also marks the second time the women’s team earned the regular-season title under her lead.

Loud Crowds and Star Players

The players led by these coaches had a lot to look forward to and plenty of motivation to give it their all in the Qubein Arena this year.

Men’s coach Alan Huss (left) and Women’s coach Chelsea Banbury (right)

Trae Benham’s debut season with the Panthers was a homecoming of sorts.

“I’m from North Carolina, so being able to come back home has been a real blessing,” said Benham, a guard on the men’s team. “I take great pride in wearing HPU on my chest. It was exciting to have the opportunity to play in the new arena. This place is unreal. We’ve worked really hard, and the fans can expect us to come out with energy and toughness next season.”

“ We’ve worked really hard, and the fans can expect us to come out with energy and toughness next season.”

— HPU men’s guard Trae Benham

HPU women’s guard Lauren Bevis was named Big South Player of the Year and loved the opportunity to build on the success of the team.

“HPU women’s basketball has a great reputation of being a dominating team, and I am excited to be a part of the culture and to get a championship in the purple and white,” Bevis said.

Anna Häger, who played as a sophomore guard, originally came to HPU from Sweden and has appreciated the opportunity,

facilities and resources on the team.

“High Point University welcomed me with open arms, both on and off the court,” Häger said. “Coming from another country was not the easiest, but HPU had faith in me. Our team will always have each other’s backs, and we work hard every day to become our best selves on and off the court. We are competitive and push each other every day so we can become better as a group.” ■

The stands in the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena were packed with roaring fans and electric energy during the 2023-2024 basketball season. Students enjoyed tailgates, giveaways and game night themes. They also supported an ESPNU national broadcast.

Both the HPU Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams were Regular Season Champions during the 2023-2024 season. The women’s team is pictured here, and the men’s team is pictured on the top of the opposite page.

GLIMPSES OF HPU VALUES

High Point University’s Board of Stewards exceeded its goal to raise more than $10,000 to purchase gifts for 100 children through the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program during the fall 2023 semester. The student board members shopped for toys, clothes and necessities for children in the High Point community to receive on Christmas.

Fifteen students and three faculty from the Department of Physical Therapy in HPU’s Congdon School of Health Sciences traveled to Belize to treat low-income and underserved patients. Students provided evaluations and treatment of approximately 40 patients while working in a makeshift clinic at a nearby retirement home.

HPU’s Student Government Association thanked and honored local first responders by delivering 350 complimentary meals to nearby fire stations, police departments and the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office during the spring 2024 semester. The annual tradition began in 2021.

Each year, HPU’s Student Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) works with High Point Parks and Recreation’s ASPIRE (Adaptive Sports, Programs and Inclusive Recreation) to co-host special Halloween, Christmas (pictured) and Valentine’s Day dances and activities for community members with intellectual or physical disabilities to enjoy.

As one of dozens of ways HPU supports local nonprofits, HPU President Nido Qubein presented annual donations totaling $312,000 to representatives from the United Way of Greater High Point, Oak View Elementary School and the High Point Fire Department.

For the ninth year in a row, students in High Point University’s Professional Selling Club raised nearly $4,000 and donated more than 100 Thanksgiving meals (pictured in boxes in this photo) to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater High Point.

HPU Remembers Dr. Jacob Martinson

The High Point University family honors the life of Dr. Jacob Martinson, who served as the president from 1985 until the end of 2004 and who passed away in 2024.

Under his leadership, many milestones were achieved. As only a few examples, High Point College became High Point University in 1991, and several facilities were renovated or added to campus, including the Hayworth Fine Arts Center. A faithful United Methodist minister and an effective community leader, his tenure brought meaningful additions to the university.

“President Martinson cared deeply about people, and he cared deeply about High Point University,” said current HPU president Nido Qubein, who served on the board of trustees when Martinson was president and who was appointed president after Martinson. “He took High Point to the next level, and I’m grateful to have known him and worked with him.”

When President Qubein arrived in 2005, he named the Martinson Clock Tower at Roberts Hall in honor of Dr. Martinson and his wife, Libby, for their years of service to the university. A plaque displayed in Roberts Hall commemorates the naming. The Roberts Bell rang in honor of Dr. Martinson after the university learned of his passing.

Read more about the Martinson Clock Tower and its history on page 20.

Daily Motivation

WITH HPU PRESIDENT NIDO QUBEIN

Elevate your mindset and find daily inspiration with High Point University’s Daily Motivation.

Sign up to receive complimentary video coaching from a life skills and leadership expert, HPU President Nido Qubein, each Monday, followed by motivational quotes from inspiring leaders the rest of the week.

You can transform your life with free, quick and relevant wisdom delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up today at www.highpoint.edu/dailymotivation

HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE

The HPU Magazine is published for our alumni, parents and friends around the world, as well as thousands of families who inquire about HPU each year. To learn more about High Point University and the alumni featured on the cover of this magazine, visit www.highpoint.edu/destination-success or scan the QR code.

BOARD LEADERSHIP

Board of Trustees

Chris Henson, ’83, Chairman

Mark Webb, ’83, Vice Chairman and Treasurer

Shirley Frye, Secretary

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William Fidler, ’69, Chairman

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Award-Winning Actress Jane Seymour and FedEx CEO to Deliver 2025 Commencement Addresses

High Point University will welcome two extraordinary speakers for the spring 2025 Commencement undergraduate and graduate ceremonies. Families of bachelor’s degree candidates will enjoy a Commencement address delivered by Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress Jane Seymour, known for her role as “Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman.” Families of master’s and doctoral degree candidates will learn from Raj Subramaniam, the President, CEO and member of the Board of Directors of FedEx Corporation, one of the world’s largest transportation companies.

As a prolific actress and iconic star of the beloved TV series “Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman,” Seymour has proven her talents in virtually all media, including the Broadway stage, motion pictures and television. In addition to winning multiple Emmy and Golden Globe awards, she is a recipient of many additional honors, including the Officer of the British Empire (OBE) bestowed upon her by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

With more than 30 years of experience at the company, Subramaniam succeeded the FedEx founder in June 2022 as the second CEO in FedEx history. He is responsible for spearheading the current global transformation of FedEx, which includes revitalizing the company’s operating strategy, profitably growing the e-commerce business, and harnessing the power of global supply chain data to drive the company’s digital agenda. His international leadership experience, keen business insights and focus on globalization provide a blueprint as the company revolutionizes the transportation and logistics industry.

Seymour and Subramaniam join a long list of distinguished HPU Commencement speakers, including Daniel Lubetzky, founder of KIND Snacks; Cynt Marshall, CEO of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and HPU Sports Executive in Residence; Dr. Michio Kaku, physicist and co-founder of String Field Theory; Wolf Blitzer, lead political anchor at CNN; the 66th Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; broadcast legend Tom Brokaw; Gen. Colin Powell, former secretary of state, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and national security advisor; former First Lady Laura Bush; Josh Groban, internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter and actor; U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas; Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple and HPU’s Innovator in Residence; Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan; NASA Astronaut Dr. Buzz Aldrin; and Muhtar Kent, CEO of the Coca-Cola Company.

Jane Seymour Raj Subramaniam