HIGH POINT, N.C., Dec. 22, 2022 – High Point University faculty and students recently received the following academic and professional awards and recognitions.
Associate Professor of Religion Presents Work at Annual Conference
Dr. Robert Moses, associate professor of religion, recently participated in a review panel on his latest book, “Jesus and Materialism in the Gospel of Mark: Traveling Light on the Way,” at the 2022 Annual Conference of the Society of Biblical Literature in Denver, Colorado.
The conference brings together a variety of leading scholars in biblical studies, exchanging ideas and networking opportunities.
Four academic scholars from across the country were part of the review panel of Moses’ book. Dr. Margaret Mitchell, a panelist from the University of Chicago, had this to say about Moses’ work: “The extensive end notes show wide reading and judicious engagement with a host of key voices in prior New Testament scholarship as well as independence of thought. The writing is clear, the argument is well signposted and the assumptions on which it is built are made evident. Its topic could not be more important.”
Dr. Moses says it was a joy to represent HPU and his work at the conference in November.
“I found the detailed engagement of these esteemed scholars with my work deeply affirming,” said Moses. “Their stimulating questions allowed me to clarify my position in several places and to also think about areas in which I may carry the conversation further. Having one’s ideas critically engaged in an academic setting is both a challenge and a gift that allows one to grow as a scholar and teacher.”
HPU School of Law Dean Mark Martin Featured in Attorney at Law Magazine
Mark Martin, dean of HPU’s new School of Law and former chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, was recently featured in the North Carolina Triangle Edition of Attorney at Law Magazine. The magazine focuses on the industry, events, trends and people who have dedicated their lives to the practice of law.
In the feature article, Martin shared his excitement to lead the new law school and be a trailblazer at The Premier Life Skills University. Martin also discussed his hopes to build a law school that attracts students from across the country, and how he will use HPU’s life skill values as a foundation for the curriculum. Another aspect of the law school will be giving students hands-on experience in a clinical setting in the legal aid community.
“We are so pleased with our incredible progress over the past few months, and of course the recognition we have received from Attorney at Law Magazine,” said Martin. “With the strong foundation of High Point University, the sky is the limit for the new law school.”
Martin is in the process of hiring professors and other education leaders to help grow the law school. The inaugural class of law students will begin their studies in the fall of 2024.
International Home Furnishings Representatives Association Awards HPU Alumnus
Dave Koehler, Class of 1984, was recently honored with the Furniture Retailer of the Year Award at the 2022 Furniture International Awards Gala, hosted by the International Home Furnishings Representatives Association.
Koehler joined the Delaware-based company Johnny Janosik, a top 100 furniture and mattress retailer, as CEO in 2007. Before that, he worked for Havertys Furniture for about 20 years, eventually reaching a leadership position with the company.
A retired HPU professor shared a little background on Koehler at the event.
“David came to HPU to study business and accounting,” said Dr. Richard Bennington, who taught furniture marketing classes at HPU. “Soon after he got to High Point, he took a part time job at the Furniture Market opening boxes and helping to set up showrooms. This sparked his interest in the furniture industry, and he decided to take the furniture marketing classes. After some time, he reached the job of regional vice president with Havertys, but then he got an opportunity to go back home and become president of Johnny Janosik. The rest is history.”
The city of High Point is the Furniture Market Capital of the World, and home to the biannual High Point Market which attracts industry leaders from around the world.
HPU Esports Club Participates in Tournament
HPU’s Esports Club participated in the first-ever Spartan Invitational collegiate tournament series, which featured the popular video game Fortnite. Teams competing in the tournament were vying for a $500 prize as the first-place winners.
Four students represented HPU at the tournament, which was livestreamed on Dec. 2. The tournament was in collaboration with Epic Games, an American video game company and software developer based in Cary, North Carolina.
Senior Matt Peters, president of the Esports Club, says this tournament helps game design students see what kinds of games they could be creating and get a firsthand look into that realm. Peters shares that it takes a lot of work for the casters, producers, players and map and game-level designers to work as a successful team.
“Tournaments are a great way to see into the inner workings of what it takes to have a successful game that can be run with competition in mind,” said Peters, a criminal justice major from Southport, North Carolina. “As somebody who will be pursuing esports career options, I will use this tournament as a steppingstone to help pave the way for bigger and better events, here at HPU and even beyond in my career.”
The HPU team took home third place at the tournament.
HPU Alumnus, ’83, Wins Emmy Award for TV Story
Greg Fox, a 1983 alumnus who majored in journalism, and an investigative and political reporter with WESH TV, recently won an Emmy Award for his investigative journalism story on one of Orlando’s most popular thrill rides.
The Suncoast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) recognized Fox and his colleagues in the category of “Continuing Coverage.” His reporting exposed flaws in the Orlando ride’s operations and led to proposed changes in Florida state laws to prevent dangerous situations from happening again.
While at HPU, Fox served as a reporter for the university’s newspaper, formerly known as The Hi-Po, and as a broadcaster for the campus radio station.