HIGH POINT, N.C., Sept. 14, 2017 – High Point University students, faculty and staff recently received the following academic and professional awards and recognitions.
AmeriCorps VISTAs Recognized at City Council Meeting
Nine HPU graduates serving as AmeriCorps VISTAs were recognized by the High Point City Council during its meeting on Aug. 21. Mayor Bill Bencini presented a resolution commending their work within the city and efforts to improve the lives of people living in the community. This is the fifth consecutive year HPU has hosted VISTAs, who are placed with nonprofit organizations to build sustainable programs in an area of focus. This year’s VISTAs will provide 2,000 hours of service each to projects related to improving education and food security.
“The High Point City Council commends and supports the nine AmeriCorps VISTAs, sponsored by High Point University, for their sacrifice, their service to the City, and all of the gifts and skills they will bring to their work,” the resolution states. “High Point will be a stronger city because of their dedication, service, and passion.”
Three Greek Life Chapters Recognized with National Awards
Two HPU sororities and a fraternity received awards and recognitions for the 2016-17 academic year from their national organizations. They are as follows:
— Zeta Tau Alpha sorority received the Crown Chapter Award at the ZTA National Leadership Conference in July. The award indicates excellence and achievement in membership, finances, activities, programming and operations.
— The Gamma Gamma chapter of Kappa Delta sorority won a Chapter Excellence Award for being in the top 20 percent of chapters in the country and an Academic Award for holding the highest GPA on campus for the year.
— The Rho Eta chapter of Kappa Sigma fraternity received Chapter Excellence Awards for the fall and spring terms and the Silver Bowl Award for maintaining an above average GPA. It was named a Champion Chapter for membership recruitment, and one of its members, senior Gabriel Rowell, was named to the Star & Crescent Society.
“Fraternities and sororities provide an important piece of the collegiate experience for many students at High Point University,” says Teri Cugliari, director of Greek Life. “These groups work hard to excel in academics and are dedicated to community service and philanthropy. I’m very pleased that chapters and individual members have been recognized by their organizations on a national level. It is well deserved.”
Music and Theatre Students, Professor Perform in “Cold Mountain”
Three HPU students and Dr. Scott MacLeod, assistant professor of music at HPU, will perform in “Cold Mountain” with the North Carolina Opera. Freshman Jerry Hurley and sophomore Corbin Elliott, both voice majors, are members of the chorus. Senior theatre major Cody Clark is part of the fight team. MacLeod is the production’s chorus master and will sing the roles of Monroe, Pangle and a Chain Gang Guard. The opera, by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Jennifer Higdon, will make its North Carolina premiere on Sept. 28 and Oct. 1 at Memorial Hall in Chapel Hill.
“This opera features major American opera stars, many of whom have graced some of the world’s most important stages, including Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera and Santa Fe Opera,” MacLeod says. “Melinda Whittington, the opera’s female lead, will sing a recital at HPU on Oct. 26 and give a masterclass for students on Oct. 27. We hope many community members will join us for her performance.”