HIGH POINT, N.C., Oct. 2, 2018 – High Point University’s Class of 2022 began donating more than 1,000 books to area elementary schools today.
Through HPU’s Common Experience program, which includes a common read, new students were invited to share their favorite book with a local child by donating a copy when they arrived to campus for the start of the fall semester. The books began to be distributed Tuesday at Montlieu Academy of Technology, Parkview Village Elementary and Welborn Academy of Science and Technology. More books will be delivered on Oct. 8 to Kirkman Park Elementary, Fairview Elementary and Oak Hill Elementary schools.
“One goal of HPU’s Welcome Week is to have the incoming class participate in a meaningful service project,” said Scott Wojciechowski, assistant vice president for Student Life. “By donating their favorite book and writing an inspirational message to the reader, we connect our newest students at HPU to the High Point community and our future learners.”
The Common Experience is a yearlong collaborative project that engages new students across disciplines as they make the transition to college. Every year the experience focuses on a central theme and allows students to begin giving back to the community immediately.
“I want to spend the rest of the day here!” said Omar Shkier, a Parkview Village Elementary student, after opening a box of books in the library.
“I greatly appreciate HPU because we are in need of new books in the hands of our students,” said Silvana Mazo, Parkview’s librarian.
Kim Scott, an HPU alumna and the principal of Montlieu Academy, looks forward to the book giveaway event for many reasons.
“For our fellow HPU scholars to come over and gift these books to our scholars, we look forward to this moment every year,” said Scott. “As we all saw when the HPU students came in, our scholars were so excited, and it was like Christmas day.”
And for Meredith Burgess, an HPU student, it may have felt like she was playing Santa’s role.
“It’s nice to watch the books go back to the community,” said Burgess. “We’re always talking about giving back, but to actually see it is amazing.”
Rosie Tarara, HPU’s Education Fellows coordinator, said she wants HPU students to see their impact on the community.
“It’s important for our HPU students to see how excited these students are and to realize the importance of giving back,” said Tarara.
HPU students only had a short moment in each classroom, but they had a lasting impact.
“We are so appreciative of the fact that HPU is willing to give back to the community and see the impact that it’s making in the lives of kids,” said Scott.