HIGH POINT, N.C., Jan. 16, 2018 – High Point University faculty, staff and students recently received the following academic and professional awards and recognitions.
Athletic Training Student Selected for National Committee
Nicholas Saul, a first-year student in the Master of Science in Athletic Training program, is one of 10 members selected for the N
ational Athletic Trainers’ Association Student Leadership Committee. This national committee represents all NATA student members, plans and promotes professional development opportunities and encourages student engagement in the athletic training community. Saul will attend the organization’s national convention in New Orleans in June, as well as the NATA Joint Committee Meeting in Dallas.
“I look forward to working with the distinguished members of the committee,” says Saul. “I’m excited to contribute to the profession of athletic training as it continues to progress and hope to represent HPU’s program well.”
Professor Named Wikipedia Fellow
Dr. Jenn Brandt, assistant professor of English and director of the Women’s and Gender Studies program, was named one of nine Wikipedia Fellows 
participating in a Wiki Education pilot program to improve public knowledge on politically relevant topics. As a fellow, she will work collaboratively to make substantial improvement to articles on subjects such as gender, public policy, political science, law, history, sociology and environmental science. Brandt is also teaching a new class in HPU’s professional and public writing minor in which students will participate in creating and updating content for Wikipedia.
“This is an opportunity for me to participate in improving content on important topics, but it’s also a chance for my students to see me working on a similar initiative alongside them as we create a collaborative work environment in the classroom,” says Brandt.
HPU Security Team Participates in VIP Protection Course
Jeff Karpovich, chief of security and transportation at HPU, participated in a VIP protection course for law enforcement presented by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security. The course instructed police officers from multiple agencies in how best to protect visiting dignitaries. The HPU security team also hosted a portion of the courseon campus. As part of an exercise, participants conducted an on-site assessment at HPU and executed security protocols for a staged dignitary visit. Karpovich was presented a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the university for providing hospitality in hosting the exercise.
“HPU was selected to host a portion of this training based on the university’s reputation for promoting professional development opportunities and working closely with law enforcement,” says Karpovich. “We welcome police partnership opportunities and look forward to participating in these types of trainings as part of our commitment to the highest security standards.”
Theatre Professor’s Play Makes NYC Premiere
“Invention,” a play co-written by Ed Simpson, chair and professor of theatre, will be performed Feb. 2-3 at the Players Theatre in New York City. 
Simpson co-wrote the play with actor Brandon Burk at HPU over a year and a half. It premiered on campus and has since been performed in Pennsylvania, Las Vegas and Utah. The autobiographical, one-man performance is based on events from Burk’s life, including his arrest and prison sentence after killing a man in a drunk driving collision and what has come from the tragedy.
“I’m particularly proud of ‘Invention’ because it’s a deeply personal play about growth, courage, and redemption – and also because the project allowed me to collaborate with a former student,” says Simpson. “I taught Brandon almost 20 years ago, and collaborating with him on this story of redemption and the rebuilding his life after tragedy has been moving and very satisfying.”