Let’s talk to Sophia, a sophomore biology major and finance minor from Las Vegas, Nevada. Sophia felt the impact of HPU’s caring environment. At High Point University, every student is promised to be surrounded by caring people. Let’s go, Sophia.
– Thanks Alex. Growing up I always knew that I wanted to go to a school that was strongly God-oriented, family-oriented, and more importantly, filled with people who truly cared about me. I found all of that at High Point University. You’ll see HPU’s caring culture in many ways. Our campus kiosks are a great example of a daily sign of care for students. We set up stations early in the morning all across campus. They’re stocked with grab and go breakfast items, drinks, and more importantly, caring staff who will give you a smile and a pep talk along with your morning muffin. Another example, what if you get sick? When it happens, it’s a stress on both you and your parents, but HPU goes the extra mile for students in need. We have a full-time on-campus health facility along with a full-time doctor. And getting there, all you have to do is call our on-campus security, and they’ll drive you straight to the door, they’re the best. From the crossing guards to the officers working all campus entry points, they work around the clock to protect our campus and care for students. You may be far from home, but at HPU you are never far from family. I toured many colleges, but my heart was set on attending HPU because of the genuine caring people. Whether it’s faculty, staff, or fellow classmates, everyone at HPU always has a smile on their face. Students are excited to learn. Faculty are thrilled to mentor and parents are proud, knowing that their children are in an environment where kindness and care are insured everywhere. I’m proud to say I fulfilled the dream, and became a Panther at High Point University. Thanks for letting me share my take. Back to you, Alex.
– Wow, Sophia, I’m so glad you found a home away from home. For parents, it’s reassuring to know someone is there for you. HPU has so many caring people who serve as mentors or just someone that puts a smile on your face. Absolutely amazing, thanks again.
Meet Julia, a graduate student earning her Master’s in Biomedical Sciences from Northbrook, Illinois. High Point University was founded in 1924. That means 2024 marks 100 years of HPU. 100 years of rich traditions, values and academic excellence. Traditions like contributing 500,000 service hours annually or starting the school year off with a legendary Derby Day campus wide party. Take it away, Julia.
– Thanks for the introduction, Alex. When choosing a school, I was looking for a place that had the same values with which I was raised and one that was filled with tradition. High Point University proudly showcases that they are a God, family and country university. This was extremely important to me as I have several family members who have served in the military. When I stepped foot onto campus, I immediately knew I had found the perfect school. It’s not just a marketing slogan. I can see it and feel across campus and so will you. There are over 140 American flags on campus. HPU’s values are also modeled through our traditions. Each year they host a Veteran’s Day breakfast for over 1,000 veterans and students volunteer for it as a way to show our appreciation. At our graduation and convocation ceremonies. Students are presented with HPU blankets to give to someone who has had a significant impact in their life. There’s even a bald eagle that soars above the crowd at both ceremonies, symbolizing the American ideals of free enterprise, independence, and the ability to pursue opportunities. As for traditions, each year students look forward to running into President Qubein, and getting giant candy bars from him on both Halloween and Valentine’s Day and one of my favorite traditions is our Last Day Of Class Carnival, an event for students to celebrate the end of the year. I couldn’t find another school that proudly displayed their values and held such honor in their traditions. HPU Excels at both. This is what made HPU become my home away from home as the values with which I was raised are continuously encouraged, and that they’re not only said but modeled across campus. I am so proud to be part of the HPU family. That’s all for me. Back to you, Alex.
– That was great to hear. HPU’s traditions are deeply rooted into the campus community and it’s great to see students taking part in all of it, giving back to the area, veterans, and not just saying the values, but displaying them too. Thanks Julia.
Say hello to Brian, a Senior Sports Management Major. He’s gonna tell us about those famous High Point University dorms consistently ranked among the top dorms in the nation, including the fourth best rating by the Princeton Review. It’s easy to explain why 95% of students choose to live on campus all four years here. Let’s go Brian.
– Thanks Alex. I had always known I wanted to get into the sports industry and I thought HPU was the perfect school to set me up for a successful career in a very competitive field. An important aspect of success in college is your living space and HPU offers some of the best residence life in the country. High Point University offers a variety of housing options ranging from apartment style houses to double occupancy shared facilities for both its freshmen and upperclassmen students. These facilities provide HPU students with an inspiring environment that makes them feel at home and provides them with the resources necessary to be successful inside and outside of the classroom. There are tons of exciting features in many of our dorms, including our most popular freshman dorm that features an arcade, movie theater, study rooms, workout facilities, and even a fine dining restaurant that all students can eat at. HPU dorms are very accommodating, even for freshmen. I still live with the same group of guys that I did my freshman year, so if you’re worried about living arrangements and making friends early on in your college career, I can tell you from experience that HPU provides you with great surroundings. High Point University provides students with unique housing options. For example, we have a tiny house neighborhood on campus, each tiny home houses one student with a loft, with a full size bed, a full bathroom, a galley kitchen, and a living area with a study desk. What’s not to love? Living on your own as a freshman isn’t easy, especially if you’re coming from somewhere far away like me. High Point University recognizes that students rise to the level of the environment that they are in and provides them with great facilities to excel and become more independent. Back to you, Alex.
– Wow, Brian, those dorms are crazy nice, especially those freshman dorms. Having all that as a freshman must be amazing. Those tiny homes are insane. Makes me wanna pack my bags and move right in. Thanks again, Brian.
Let me introduce you to Janiyah, a junior double majoring in Exercise Science and Sports Management. High Point University is ranked number one for innovation by US News, and innovation starts in the classroom. HPU places an emphasis on small class sizes and experiential learning, allowing you to learn far beyond a textbook by putting what you learn to practice, giving you real world experiences. Innovation is in the very DNA of HPU. Tell us more, Janiyah.
– Thanks Alex. Growing up, I recognized that I was a hands-on learner. That was something I looked for in universities. I toured HPU, and recognized that this was built into curriculum here through experiential learning and research opportunities. The Ivy League level laboratories that I saw I would get to work in showed me this is the right place for me. My freshman year I began doing research here in our biomechanics lab. I work with our Division 1 athletes participating in injury prevention research. I was given this opportunity through our Health Science Fellows program. We are a cohort of exercise science majors to go on venture trips to labs, do community service outreach and more. HPU small class sizes also help with getting involved in research so early. I didn’t just wanna be a number. I wanted a close mentor-mentee relationship, which is exactly what I got here. Experiential learning at HPU is 25% of the course curriculum. It’s a hands-on learning approach that no textbook could ever teach you. In my human biomechanics class, you’ll spend the class learning of movement such as the vertical counter movement jump. You would then head down to the human biomechanics lab, and see how it is in real time. Here at HPU, research begins your freshman year, students have the opportunity to be authors or co-authors of research. Students are then encouraged to present their research during on-campus conferences. There’s even a program Research Rookies designed to get freshmen into research early. I’ve built professional confidence that will help me excel in the world beyond my four years of college. Thanks to my time at High Point University and the access to innovative research materials, I know I’m set for the future. Back to you, Alex.
– Wow, Janiyah, those opportunities are unmatched. No wonder so many students impress their employers when they start out. They go into it with basically four years of real world experience. Your research looks so innovative. Best of luck.
Meet Francesca, a senior majoring in Event Management. She holds two campus jobs and is a member of five other clubs and organizations. At HPU, getting involved is easy. With over 250 clubs and organizations, there is without a doubt a place for everyone. She’s gonna tell you how to get involved and find your place like she did. Francesca, you are on. ♪ Ooh, oh ♪ ♪ Ooh, oh ♪
– Thanks, Alex, when I toured colleges, a top thing I looked for was an active student body where I could see myself getting involved. Once I arrived at HPU, I got involved right away and they made it easy. I rushed my freshman year and found my forever sisters at Kappa Delta. So many of our students are in Greek life, but if that’s not your thing, don’t worry. Opportunities for involvement are endless. I’m a senior now and I cherish the memories that I’ve made along the way. My leadership position has connected me to tons of people on campus. I’m also a part of two honor societies, the Event Management Club, and I hold two jobs on campus. I work as a student concierge. We serve to improve the daily lives of students, faculty, and community members by providing a single source of knowledge for the university, and I’m also the media specialist for Fraternity and Sorority Life. Having all of these responsibilities has broadened my skillset for when it’s time to join the workforce. As far as your typical day on campus, imagine waking up in your beautiful dorm and grabbing Starbucks. After you meet up with friends at the Butterfly Cafe and enjoy a nice Mediterranean meal or The Point, our sports grill, and watch a game. Then you finish up your day with a meal at 1924 Prime, one of our three fine dining learning labs where you’re taught how to interact over a potential business dinner or interview. You’ll easily find your place. Not only have I been presented with numerous opportunities within my own clubs and organizations, I’ve made so many lifelong friends. Looking back at my four years, I have flourished into the proud, confident, and ambitious woman I’ve always dreamed of becoming. Back to you, Alex. ♪ Oh, ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh, oh ♪
– Wow, you have taken advantage of the countless opportunities. Those dining locations look so good. HPU certainly enables you to be a campus leader, get involved in your passions or discover new ones and meet others who become lifelong friends. Thanks, Francesca.
Let’s meet High Point University President, Dr. Nido Qubein. Under his enthusiastic vision and leadership, HPU has grown from 90 acres to more than 500. They’ve added more than a dozen new academic schools, including dental medicine and law, plus HPU is focused on a value-based education that fosters the development of life skills. Here’s one of the most popular, engaged and forward-facing presidents you’ll ever meet. Take it away, President Qubein.
– Thank you Alex, and thank you for your interest in High Point University. This is a university that believes in you. Our call to action here is Choose To Be Extraordinary. You are born to be extraordinary, but you must choose to grow in wisdom too. You must choose to develop a growth mindset to thrive in an ever-changing global marketplace. We do that at HPU by instilling premier life skills in our students, because you want to be armed not only with a diploma, but also with awareness, wise judgment, and a set of values that will prepare you for a life that’s filled with success. We do this in so many ways on this campus from our amazing academic programs, professional and graduate schools, and state-of-the-art facilities to the way we treat our students with genuine authentic care. HPU has created an environment that inspires learning and inspires growing. Our faculty are ranked number one in our US News category for undergraduate teaching, and HPU is number four in the nation for best dorms by the Princeton Review, and number one for food, along with so many rankings and so many other distinctions, these are all important to your growth, and your maturity, and yes for your happiness. When you visit this campus, you’re gonna love it. We invest in creating this dynamic atmosphere because we’re focused on educating of course, your mind, but also your heart and your soul. HPU wants to ensure that you are not intimidated by life’s obstacles. Our graduates are ready to take on the world. Thinking about your future, you sometimes might get a little anxious, that’s understandable, but here you’ll have a personal success coach to help guide you through your first year in college. You’ll take a class led by me, and some of my highly accomplished nationally known friends. You’ll have access to state-of-the-art learning facilities, and through it all you’ll learn life skills, like coachability, adaptability, and communication just to name a few. These are the skills that will carry you far beyond your current trends in the marketplace. These are the skills that employers value. You don’t just want a college you’ll enjoy for four years, although that’s not all that bad. You want to enroll at a university that will prepare you for life. Come experience this extraordinary campus. High Point University is unique, it’s distinctive, and it’s designed from beginning to end to ensure that your life, your future, your career are nothing short of extraordinary. Now, back to you Alex.
– Thank you, President Qubein. Your story is incredible, and you have inspired so many others. This campus is extraordinary, and the transformation it has gone through is unimaginable. You are leading a university the way it should be. Thank you again.
Hannah is a senior majoring in secondary English education and minoring in sports leadership from Gresham, Oregon. Western was originally established as a teacher college back in 1856, and its education major is highly regarded and renowned still to this day. Also, their NCAA Division II Athletics program offered students a unique advantage to compete at the only Division II university in Oregon. Tell us more, Hannah.
– Hey, thanks so much for the intro. Coming from a long line of educators and athletes, I decided to continue on the tradition by majoring in secondary English education while minoring in sports leadership here at Western Oregon University, where I’m also the three time team captain on the Women’s Soccer Team here. I was initially going to play Division I soccer, but quickly realized that what I wanted in a university did not align with the one I committed to. Instead, I signed on with Western, which has been a blessing. Here, I’m close to home, I can be in a prestigious and rigorous ed program, and also, I get to play soccer. I get the best of both worlds. One of my favorite things about being an athlete here at Western is how tight-knit the athlete community is. I walk down the streets of campus and I know all the athletes of all the NCAA sports teams here. As hard as it is to explain and as cliche as it sounds, it truly is a family environment here at Western. I have been fortunate to be a student in the education program where I have hands-on experience in a real classroom setting. I’ve built connections with fellow student teachers in an environment that is both challenging and rewarding. The environment is fostered by highly educated professors and they understand and support the flexibility student athletes like myself need to be both a successful student teacher and student athlete. I’m excited to complete a bachelor’s degree where I plan on pursuing a master’s degree here at Western. Never stop learning. Back to you, Alex.
– Hannah, thank you for highlighting the supportive and inclusive relationship between students and professors. It is so invigorating to hear that you have found a family here at Western who supports you in your education and athletics. Thanks again.
Let’s hear from Brenda, a first generation college junior majoring in public policy and administration from Woodburn, Oregon. With an incredible Latino student community, Western provides many offerings and services in Spanish for both students and their families. Tell us more, Brenda.
– Gracias, Alex. Growing up in a small Latino town, my parents taught me to put my education first since they were not able to complete their own. Now, I’m a first generation Latina student studying public policy and administration here in Western. When deciding on a college, I knew I wanted to be close to home and my culture, and Western has a growing Latino community that feels like Family. Western also has multiple student services, like the Multicultural Student Services Program and Student Enrichment Program TRiO with bilingual and multicultural advisors dedicated to supporting students and their educational journey. Thanks to these programs, I feel like I can be authentically myself and can relate to others who share my experience. There are also other opportunities for student involvement. I have joined a variety of clubs that connect students with their Latino culture, and others that have helped me develop lifelong skills, such as the Model United Nations Club. These extracurricular activities connect both my culture and my field of study. Thanks to WOU’s growing Latino population, we will soon become an official Hispanic serving institution. Western does a great job at offering classes and services in Spanish that not only I, but my family can take advantage of, such as bilingual advisors, financial aid, and campus tours. As a kid wanting to advocate for others, I’d never imagined that I would help my community grow in such a way. At Western, I’m not just a number. I get to steer my education where I can grow and advocate for my . Now, back to you, Alex.
– Brenda, thank you for highlighting your experience and the work you do at Western to continue to strengthen the Latino community. Western’s deep commitment to Latino students and their families is evident through your story. Thank you.
Let’s hear from Aneli, a first generation college senior majoring in exercise science from Hillsboro, Oregon. Western is a place where many first generation and diverse college students feel comfortable attending because of the tailored support and services they receive, which helps them reach new heights in their academic career. Tell us more, Aneli.
– Thanks, Alex. Hi, everyone. When deciding on the right college for myself, I knew I wanted to be close enough to home to visit family often, but also feel like I was away at college. Western was the perfect location for that. I was also drawn to the smaller class sizes and the walkability of campus. I remember being told as a freshman that by joining student clubs and organizations or whatever interests me will help me make great connections with others. Being a senior, I can now attest to that, whether that was at the Rec Center, through clubs, volleyball, or my on-campus jobs, one being at the Freedom Center where I’m currently serving as one of the co-directors, I have made lasting connections I will always cherish. Being a first generation college student, working at the Freedom Center has become something I’m very passionate about, because being a fully student-led organization, I get to help other students going through the same thing I was going through a couple years ago. The Freedom Center is an incredible resource for students. It provides students an array of services, from free school supplies, peer-to-peer advising, class scheduling help, connections with other clubs through our events, to an overall safe space for students, especially those who are BIPOC and have intersectional identities. The main goal is to help students succeed and feel supported. Western has given me the opportunity to find my true interests, pursue my passions, and grow as a leader. To my fellow first generation college students, know that there are many others going through the same things as you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and get involved. I promise it’s worth it. You will find your family here. Western is where you belong. Back to you, Alex.
– Aneli, thank you for detailing a few of the amazing resources students have access to. Western is definitely a place where students of all backgrounds can attend confidently and know that they will be supported throughout their entire college journey. Your work at the Freedom Center is an important part of preserving Western’s focus on diverse and first generation students. Thanks again.
Let’s hear from Hunter, a graduate student from Portland, Oregon. Western is a place for students to grow as leaders and offers many leadership opportunities. Associated students of Western Oregon offers incredible opportunities for students to grow in leadership. Tell us more, Hunter.
– Thanks, Alex. I knew I wanted to study to become a teacher so I could be there for my students, just like my teachers were there for me, so I decided to come to Western and study to become a math teacher so I can invest in my students’ future. The high quality math program at Western has allowed me to study many different areas in math while also preparing me for student teaching. Western also has incredible student leadership opportunities. The WOU Crew, Destination Western, Discover Leadership, and the Associated Students of Western Oregon University are among many campus organizations that foster leadership skills and are programs that I have been a part of. The highlight of my experience at Western is definitely serving within the Associated Students of Western. I’ve been working in student government now for about three years, starting off as their director of visual communications, then serving as their student body vice president, and finally getting elected as the student body president, being the first graduate student to ever hold that role. As president, I’ve been able to help plan many successful campus-wide events. I’ve served at the state representative for higher education, I’ve raised 500 pounds of food in one week, and have also helped start the process of campus-wide composting. Associated Students of Western is fully student run and funded. It is designed to represent students and is tasked with advocating for all student rights, coordinating programming, overseeing clubs, and representing student interests to continue to ensure students have a rich student experience. Something I struggle with is believing in myself. I often catch myself thinking, can I do this? Am I capable? My one piece of advice is to have the guts to never give up. Western helps you find your confidence and your ability to succeed, so come to Western and find yourself. Take it back, Alex.
– Hunter, thank you for illuminating the opportunities for students to get involved in leadership roles at Western and how the student government is vital to ensure students continue to have a rich college experience. Thanks again.