HIGH POINT, N.C., March 25, 2011 ? Origami is the ancient Japanese art of turning a piece of paper into a beautiful object. But for High Point University students, the tradition provided a unique platform to raise money and hope for Japan earthquake and tsunami relief.
Students, faculty and staff gathered in HPU?s Slane Student Center on March 24 to fold paper cranes, which have symbolic meaning in Japanese culture. It is said that anyone who folds 1,000 paper cranes will be granted a wish. The students? wish is that the Japanese people find peace and begin their road to recovery.
Each student donated $5 to participate in the event. All of the proceeds are going to the American Red Cross, which has major relief operations underway in Japan.
?I?m encouraged and grateful for the support of our entire campus,? says student Kiera Hereford, who helped organize much of the event along with her Delta Sigma Theta sorority sisters. ?It?s beautiful to see the HPU community rally around this crisis.?
Two HPU students from Japan also were on hand at the event to teach the art of origami to fellow students. Their families in Japan were mostly unaffected by the situation, but they approached university officials about holding a fundraiser because they wanted to help their native country.
?I love that we?re doing this,? adds Tomo Yamada, an HPU senior from Japan. ?We really wanted to help the people there, who have no water, food or power.?
Students will have more opportunities throughout the week to continue folding paper cranes.
At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people. HPU, located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, is a liberal arts institution with over 4,200 undergraduate and graduate students from 51 countries and 46 states at campuses in High Point and Winston-Salem. It is ranked by US News and World Report at No. 3 among Regional Colleges in the South. Forbes.com ranks HPU in the top 7 percent among ?America?s Best Colleges.? Parade Magazine lists HPU in the top 25 private schools in the nation. The university offers 50 undergraduate majors, 42 undergraduate minors and 14 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 highpoint.edu.
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Pam Haynes
Communication Specialist
336-841-9055
[email protected]