HIGH POINT, N.C., Nov. 24, 2009 - High Point University celebrated the start of the holiday season with the annual HPU Thanksgiving Program, delighting faculty, staff and students with an array of entertainment. The event was held on Nov. 23 in the Pauline Theatre of the Hayworth Fine Arts Center.

Acts in the special event included:

- Sean Emery, who previously performed with Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey, as well as on the streets and stages of New York City. He is one of the most sought after entertainers in the world.

- The Liberty Voices, a world-famous eight-part a cappella group that sings Americana, folk and patriotic songs. The group has performed for five United States presidents and has traveled around the world.

- Chad Hymas, an inspirational speaker, who shared his touching message, "Who Needs Legs When you Have Wings." Hymas, who experienced a life-altering event when an accident left him as a quadriplegic, is the president of his own communications company and an Internet marketing company. He spends much of his time traveling and speaking to professional and civic organizations.

At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in a fun environment with caring people. HPU, located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, is a liberal arts institution with 3,700 undergraduate and graduate students from 50 countries and 44 states at campuses in High Point and Winston-Salem. It is ranked by US News and World Report No. 5 among comprehensive universities in the South and No. 1 in its category among up-and-coming schools. Forbes.com ranks HPU in the top 6 percent among "America's Best Colleges." HPU was included in The Chronicle of Higher Education's "Great Colleges to Work For" 2009 listings. The university offers 68 undergraduate majors, 40 undergraduate minors and seven graduate degree programs. It is accredited by the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and is a member of the NCAA, Division I and the Big South Conference. Visit High Point University on the Web at http://www.highpoint.edu/ or on Twitter at @HighPointU.