From left to right are Troy, Kyle, Tyler and Ryan Kubanka, all of whom attended HPU, pictured on HPU’s campus following Tyler’s graduation. Their parents, Evelyn and Doug Kubanka, provide special HPU insight in this Q&A.
Families appreciate the values and life skills HPU instills in their students. Meet the Kubanka family. Evelyn and Doug Kubanka of Rochester, New York, are the parents of four HPU students: Kyle, ’18, a senior consultant at Flintfox; Tyler, ’19, a business analyst at Masonite; Ryan, ’22, a young entrepreneur who started his own business called Lozana; and Troy, ’25. As experienced HPU parents, Evelyn and Doug share their knowledge about how HPU prepares students for a life of success and significance. Here’s a look at what parents need to know:
Q: What stood out to you most when exploring HPU? What set it apart?
EK: On our tour, the students guiding us were so positive when they talked about their experience. They had an excited energy. It’s like when you show off your new home to family and friends. You’re proud of what you’ve done and where you live. It was that same emotion coming from the students. The students talked about the campus like their home and the people there like their family. That really spoke to us. On tours of other schools, the students didn’t hold their heads up. They didn’t hold the door for each other or smile. They were glum, and it brought down the mood of the entire campus. We realized quickly that it’s hard to match HPU.
DK: Yes, obviously the campus is very beautiful, but there’s a purpose behind it. It’s an uplifting place. I think a big part of the reason people at HPU are so upbeat is because of the environment — the beautiful gardens and the music playing along the International Promenade. When you combine that with a president who’s so involved and walks around spending time with students, it all comes together to create an environment that inspires goodness.
Q: How did values play a role in choosing a school?
DK: HPU’s God, family and country mantra is very important to us. Those values were at the top of our list. That’s how we brought up our sons, and we wanted to find a university that would build that up and not deconstruct it. I believe it’s more important than ever to honor and respect our country and to teach students to make our country better. HPU does that.
EK: Both of my parents and Doug’s mother immigrated here, so we were both raised knowing the power of this country and what it means. We’re not a perfect country, but reminding students of the opportunities that exist here is something we’ve aimed to teach our own sons. To have a school that does that, too, is very important.
Q: How has HPU transformed your students?
EK: HPU has grown their confidence. Our sons have learned to articulate and give their opinions in a respectful way. Our oldest son, Kyle, had a phone call with a high-up executive during his first job, and he wasn’t afraid to speak up and offer his thoughts. I don’t think he would have done that if he’d gone to another university. He would have been hesitant, like so many new, young employees are in meetings. He’s now done that repeatedly, impressing his co-workers and bosses and proving his value to the company.
DK: Kyle also hasn’t been afraid to expand outside his boundaries. He was a business major and finance minor, but he’s delved into issues with IT and hasn’t been afraid to explore and learn new skills. That really goes for all our boys. Tyler, a graduate of the communication school, has demonstrated his confidence and willingness to learn by branching into finance and supervision while earning increasing levels of responsibility in the workplace. They’ve all taken it upon themselves to be continuous learners. That’s something HPU instilled in them. We love a lot of things about HPU, but the focus on life skills and the fact that President Qubein teaches these important life lessons in a life skills seminar – it’s all spot on with what they need for the real world. Other universities just miss the boat on that.
Q: What do you tell parents and high school students who are considering HPU?
EK: When I talk about HPU, other parents always point out how excited I get about it. My biggest advice is to visit. The campus is beautiful but also purposeful. Also, as a parent, I can’t go without noting that the university’s communication is astounding and makes us feel continually engaged even from afar. HPU says it’s a home and that they care. That’s reflected especially in how they communicate with parents. I think specifically of how HPU handled the COVID-19 pandemic. They were ahead of decision-making faster than most schools and did everything they had to do to get students back to school and in person while so many schools across the country resorted to online learning. It speaks a lot to the university’s genuine care for students and their families.
DK: I agree. And I can say that the care for students is very real. Our son, Ryan, the entrepreneur in the family, already started several businesses on his own. At HPU, he’s met numerous times with President Qubein, several of the deans, and in all those meetings, they’ve worked to build his connections. Troy has felt right at home his first year at HPU, growing his confidence and expanding his horizons. His professors and advisors have helped him shape his desired path. Then, there’s the Access to Innovators Program. The connections built with those industry leaders are unprecedented for college students. All our sons have been well-connected and pushed forward in their interests just by attending HPU. When we attended HPU’s Open Houses with each of our sons, I saw other prospective parents eyeing each other and wondering if this place is as good as it seems. I’m very fast to perk up and interject that it’s as real as it gets. The life skills, the inspiring environment — we can confirm that everything you hear is true.