HIGH POINT, N.C., Sept. 10, 2015 – Nearly 1,600 High Point University alumni and guests are expected to return to campus Oct. 9-11 for Alumni Weekend 2015. Among the festivities, the university will present awards to six outstanding alumni during the annual Alumni Awards Banquet at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 9 in the R.G. Wanek Center. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by contacting the Alumni Office at 336-841-9127.
Alumni Weekend is one of many events held throughout the year that attract visitors and result in a major economic boost for the city of High Point. The High Point Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates the economic impact of this year’s event will be more than a half million dollars.
“We always look forward to welcoming HPU alumni back home, and this year is no different as we are expecting alumni from all over the country, who span many different generations, and take pride in the extraordinary things happening on their campus,” says Chris Dudley, senior vice president for development. “We are especially thrilled to be recognizing six outstanding alumni for their distinguished accomplishments and service to the university and the community.”
Hosted by the Alumni Association, the awards banquet will honor the following individuals:
- Beverly Crotts ’63, of High Point, will be awarded the Alumni Service Award. A member of the Steel Magnolias, she has been a longtime supporter of the university, especially HPU athletics and the School of Education, where a room is named in her honor. Crotts graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in education-social studies from High Point College and went on to receive a master’s degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. During a 37-year teaching career at Trinity High School, Crotts served many roles, and the influence she held on the student body throughout her tenure resulted in her being named Teacher of the Year and a recipient of the Trinhian Award. To continue her legacy, a scholarship is given in her name each year to a student graduating from the high school.
- Angela McGill ’01, ’06, of High Point, will also be awarded the Alumni Service Award. She was born in High Point and reared in public housing. She diligently worked to overcome life’s challenges and prove to her children and others that a different life could be achieved through hard work and determination. Prior to attending HPU, McGill served in the U.S. Army. She graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2001 and a Master of Business Administration in 2006. After graduating, she served as a member of the HPU Alumni Board. In 2003, McGill began working with the High Point Housing Authority. After a stint as executive director of the Rockingham Housing Authority in 2009, McGill returned to the HPHA in 2010 and has served as chief executive officer since that time. The mission of the HPHA is to provide eligible families and individuals with adequate and affordable housing, economic advancement and homeownership opportunities.
- Edna Rose Duncan Guy ’60 and William Guy ’61, of High Point, will be awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. As students and alumni, the Guys have been committed members of the HPU family. Both were extremely engaged in student life, with Edna Rose serving as president of Kappa Delta, Panhellenic vice president and staff member of the “Hi Po” and “Zenith,” and William serving as president of Pi Kappa Alpha, business manager of the newspaper and on the dormitory board, among other involvement. After graduating from High Point College, they pursued graduate degrees at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, East Carolina University and Memphis University. Both served as high school educators, taking on many leadership roles and receiving honors throughout their careers. They returned to HPU, where William was dean of students in the 1970s. During that time, he and Edna Rose lived on campus and acted as parents to many HPU students. The Guys are still committed to HPU as members of the Steel Magnolias, the Alumni Board, the Panther Club Board and the House Board of Kappa Delta Chapter Officer’s Board. They are also very involved in the community, serving in various leadership capacities at Emerywood Baptist Church and giving their time to the High Point Theatre Board, State Employees Credit Union Advisory Board, Graduate School Board at UNCG, Friends of the Library Board, League of Women Voters and more.
- Rich Mossman ’03, of Greensboro, will be awarded the Young Alumni Achievement Award. Mossman is a senior vice president at CBRE, where he focuses on office and industrial real estate on behalf of his clients. Since 2007, he has completed more than 400 transactions in excess of $250 million and is continually recognized as one of the Triad’s top commercial brokers. Today, he works with some of the largest local and institutional owners and companies in the Triad. He was awarded Rookie of the Year in 2007 and has earned numerous Top Producer and Broker of the Year awards over the years. He was named a partner in 2012. In 2013, Mossman was honored as one of the 40 Leaders Under Forty by the Triad Business Journal. He continues to stay involved at HPU, coming back to campus as a guest lecturer and serving as a member of the Board of Visitors.
- Chris Henson ’83, of Winston-Salem, will be awarded Alumnus of the Year. Henson graduated cum laude from HPU in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. As a student, he was a member of Alpha Chi honor society, Delta Mu Delta honorary business fraternity, Junior Marshalls, Society for the Advancement of Management and Baptist Student Union. Henson is also a graduate of the Young Executive Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Duke University Advanced Management Program. He began his banking career in 1985 when he entered BB&T’s Management Development program and served BB&T in various capacities before being named chief financial officer in July 2005. Since January 2009, he has served as the chief operating officer. Henson has been a board member for various chambers of commerce, foundations and nonprofits. Currently, he is a member of the HPU Board of Trustees and chairman of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness.
Other events to be held during the weekend include campus tours and open houses, networking events, class reunions, service projects and student performances. For a full schedule and more details, visit http://alumni.highpoint.edu/alumniweekend.