With another Commencement quickly approaching, High Point University graduates will be commencing prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other esteemed organizations thanks to their journey at HPU. Here’s a glimpse of one extraordinary senior from the Class of 2021:
Name: Grace George
Hometown: Wheeling, West Virginia
Major: Double major in sport management and political science on a pre-law track
Post-graduation plans: George will be attending Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law to pursue a Juris Doctorate law degree.
How HPU helped you get there: “Through my experiences at HPU, I have changed drastically. Without my time at HPU, I would not be a confident young professional, and I certainly would not be ready to apply these skills to my future career. I was once told to always do the right thing. People approach this concept with many different frameworks. To me, doing the right thing concerns establishing clearly defined boundaries, including cultivating a commitment to others in balance with a commitment to one’s self. My resume reveals that my interests and achievements are closely correlated with why I want to go to law school. I believe I will contribute meaningfully to the legal practice beyond my resume due to a valuable life lesson of doing the right thing: serving others as an advocate while knowing my own limits. And ultimately, I have learned this through the personal hardships that I have faced during my time at High Point University. Simply put, I think that these experiences at HPU have revealed to me that I tend to value relationships very much, which is an important skill to have as I ultimately seek to become a lawyer with clientele. And I will need to have those interpersonal skills to advocate on their behalf. Through my time at HPU, I have pursued various internship experiences to help cultivate my interests: a love of sports and a responsibility to be politically informed. These professional opportunities have enabled me to see my valuable qualities as a communicator and achiever. At the end of the day, I decided to select the majors I have currently due to a true love of politics and sports. Upon my graduation in May 2021, I will attend law school at Ohio Northern in Ada, Ohio. My professional goal entails pursuing a career in the legal field of sports, where I can utilize my leadership skills and the knowledge that I have obtained from my education and internship experiences. During my time in undergraduate studies, I had five externship and internship experiences. For each of those opportunities, I sought out the Office of Career and Professional Development, whether for resume assistance, drafting cover letters, or preparing for interviews. The Office of Career and Professional Development has assisted me in varying capacities during the last four years at HPU, and I have been able to connect with Doug Hall and Emily Long for career-related and the law school application process. I feel confident that I am going to be attending law school with the best understanding of my future career and profession and the skills necessary to succeed.”
Most impactful mentor at HPU: “My most impactful mentor during my time at HPU was my academic advisor, Dr. Lukow. While I have had many mentors at HPU, Dr. Lukow stands out to me most because she always encouraged me to pursue a career in law. Sport management is a smaller major in the Nido Qubein School of Communication, and often there are not that many students interested in pursuing careers in law from that track, but from the beginning, it has always been one of my biggest interests to pursue an education in sport law. Dr. Lukow has constantly supported this dream and encouraged me to pursue internships in the legal field of sports. Her mentorship has enabled me to become confident and prepared me for my future career.”
Most impactful moment at HPU: “I believe that my most impactful moments at High Point University have been my times in leadership. In addition to being a Presidential Scholar and named on the Dean’s List consistently since 2017, I am a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, Alpha Chi National College Honor Society, Order of Omega Greek Honor Society, Lambda Pi Eta Communication Studies Honor Society and Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society. I also have been involved in the Student Justice Program, Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity and the Student Government Association. These leadership positions have enabled me to impact the HPU community in a means that is not always necessarily seen by everyone. I know that I am making a difference in our community by upholding our students to the same standards, and similarly, I know that I am able to advocate and provide equitable treatment to my peers within organizations that I truly care about.”
Advice for underclassmen: “High Point University undoubtedly best prepares students for careers and post-graduate education. The best advice that I can give to underclassmen for becoming successful after graduation is to get involved. Regardless of what your major is or your area of interest, it is important to get involved. There are endless opportunities for involvement on campus as well as off. It is critical to use resources, whether that be career and professional development or your mentor, to network and seek opportunities. It is truly invaluable what I have learned through talking to people at HPU about my future career and goals for myself.”