HIGH POINT, N.C– High Point University students, faculty and staff recently received the following academic and professional awards and recognitions.

HPU Students Support UNICEF School Project  

HPU's Circle K Club hosted the annual Miss High Point University pageant and raised more than $31,600 within a two-week period, with full participation from all 22 nominees to support UNICEF's construction of a school in Ivory Coast.

HPU’s Circle K Club was recognized as the highest fundraising Circle K Club at a university across the country, said Circle K President Genna Manger, a junior English and psychology major and Honors Scholar.

Over the past two years, HPU’s club has raised more than $40,000, which is close to covering the cost of a fully established classroom for students in Cote d’Ivoire. Circle K International increased its initial goal of $150,000 in five years because of the success of the Miss High Point University event. The turnout in Hayworth Fine Arts Center for the pageant showed support to the contestants who represented HPU's many philanthropic organizations.

Sofia Console, a freshman nursing major from Barrington Hills, Illinois, represented Zeta Tau Alpha and was crowned as Miss High Point University.

“She is super excited to hold her title and get more involved in the world of Circle K,” said Manger. “As we started planning for this year’s Miss HPU pageant, our initial aim was to bring a positive change. Little did we know the impact would stretch far across our campus, and it would be such a truly rewarding experience. Aside from its primary goal of raising funds, the pageant aimed to empower individuals within and beyond the represented organization to actively serve their community.”

Kamryn Eller, past president of Circle K, said her initial goal in started the Miss HPU pageant last year was not only to raise money for UNICEF but to create an event to unite the campus.

“This pageant was the first time that Student Government Association (SGA) organizations, clubs and Greek life all came together for one cause and participated as a group,” said Eller. “It was incredible to see representatives from every corner of campus advocating for the same cause and competing for the same purpose–to raise money for children and families to have better lives in Cote d’Ivoire. I am so happy and honored that everyone cares so much about the meaning behind this event and that it truly did bring so many students together.”     

Maddie Litvan, vice president of membership, said Circle K members were surprised and thrilled by the interest other groups expressed.

“I loved having so many different types of clubs, teams and Greek organizations participate because it made our pageant representative of our campus,” said Litvan.

Students Selected as Dialogue Ambassadors

HPU students Avery Miles and Keonna Elliott were selected as Student Dialogue Ambassadors (SDAs) as part of North Carolina Campus Engagement's groundbreaking program. HPU was one of only three North Carolina schools awarded this honor for 2023-24.

Participating campuses select two students to serve as SDAs. The students attended training Oct. 7-8. Funding is provided by the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.

Launched in 2022, the SDA program seeks to:

Mobilize a trained cohort of student leaders who are passionate about bridging divides through dialogue and civil discourse.

Help students build the skills and habits of democracy by engaging in deliberation and dialogue on critical issues facing North Carolina.

Empower students to engage in open exchange of ideas.

For Elliott, a sophomore computer science major with a cybersecurity emphasis, being selected as an SDA means she is part of an initiative that can completely change the campus culture.

“This opportunity gives everyone on campus a chance to engage with each other despite our difference,” said Elliott, who is from Greensboro, North Carolina. “Using the dialogue models, my co-ambassador and I have learned from the training sessions. Our discussion sessions will give participants the space to give their opinions freely and without judgment. By learning how to improve my communication style with these models as my aids, I can help more people learn to effectively communicate no matter the topic.”

Elliott noted effective communication is the crux of any career and a valuable skill she can use in any leadership position she earns.

“I learned different activities and workshops I can use to help people better understand one another,” said Miles, a sophomore marketing major from Burlington, North Carolina.

The training reinforced the value of being patient with people in various settings and recognizing everyone is different, Miles said. Being selected was meaningful to him personally.

“It shows me that people see skills and potential in me that I don’t always see in myself,” said Miles. “This will help my future career plans by making me more knowledgeable of who and how I interact with people on a daily basis.”  

After NCCE training in the fall semester, each campus’ SDA will host four dialogues plus a training session for other students. HPU has set workshop dates in 2024 for Feb. 21 and March 20, and a dialogue session on April 10.

Students Selected for N.C. Intercollegiate Honor Band

Three HPU band students were selected to play in the inaugural North Carolina Intercollegiate Honor Band (NCIHB). Students from every university and college across the state were invited to submit recordings to audition for the band.

Jared Bevacqua, a sophomore, was selected to play euphonium and appointed as first chair.

Christopher Robinson II, a sophomore, was chosen to play trumpet.

Christian Sawina, a senior, was selected to play clarinet.

“This is a tremendous honor for these students and a source of pride for our university,” said HPU Professor of Music and Director of Instrumental Studies Brian Meixner.

The band’s rehearsals and performances will be part of the annual North Carolina Music Educators Association convention in Winston-Salem. The NCIHB concert is set for 8 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Stevens Center in Winston-Salem.  

HPU Professor Earns Marketing Award

Dr. Cynthia Hanson, associate professor of marketing, received the Best Paper award in the Advertising, Digital Marketing and Promotion track at the Atlantic Marketing Association fall conference for her paper, “Familiarity, Sensationalism, and Forward Referencing in Celebrity Clickbait: Effects on Curiosity and Click Intention.”

The paper reports the results of a study showing that curiosity and intention to click on a digital post are greater when the copy uses forward-referencing to point to missing information and when the post features a familiar celebrity, but significantly lower when the post is sensationalized through exaggerated copy, punctuation and emojis. The results support the information gap theory of curiosity and suggest growing consumer skepticism and a backlash against sensationalized headlines.

HPU Physical Therapy Alumnus Aids Air Force 

Dr. Robert "Buzz" Walker, physical therapist from the HPU class of 2022, has been commissioned by the U.S. Air Force to attend officer training in January 2024. After training, Walker will report to Joint Base San Antonio to serve as a staff physical therapist. 

“I am thrilled to have the honor to serve the country and work with the highest level of patients,” said Walker, who is originally from Akron, Ohio. “HPU has provided me with proper training and education to work in a fast-paced and high-intensity environment. I feel like the HPU Department of Physical Therapy program has the best staff in the country and helps prepare you to succeed in any physical therapy career path that you desire. I look forward to starting this next journey and feel like HPU prepared me to succeed early and often.”